Etai Benson News

'S wonderful. 'S marvelous. 'S absolutely freaking flawless! The audience was humming with excitement as the lights grew dim at the Music Hall at Fair Park on Wednesday night for the Dallas debut of 'An American in Paris'. Inspired by the Academy Award winning 1951 film and wonderfully reimagined for the stage in 2015 by director and choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, with the book by Craig Lucas and set to the fantastic music of George and Ira Gershwin, it was completely captivating from start to finish.

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, the most awarded new musical of 2015 and winner of four Tony Awards®, will play the Music Hall at Fair Park January 31 - February 12, 2017, for two weeks presented by Dallas Summer Musicals.

The 1951 film, AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, was recently broadcast on Turner Classic Movies, and I had a chance to watch it before attending the recent musical adaptation that is currently playing the Fox Theatre. The film is a classic, and I'm happy to report that the new musical version is an excellent take on the story. Filled with wonderful "triple threat" (acting, dancing, singing) performances that do more than justice to the original work, this is an uplifting, amusing, and immensely entertaining production that I cannot recommend highly enough. The opportunity to hear such lush orchestrations of George Gershwin's (lyrics by Ira Gershwin) music, combined with some extraordinary dance sequences and a compelling story, is one that should not be missed.The 1951 film, AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, was recently broadcast on Turner Classic Movies, and I had a chance to watch it before attending the recent musical adaptation that is currently playing the Fox Theatre. The film is a classic, and I'm happy to report that the new musical version is an excellent take on the story. Filled with wonderful "triple threat" (acting, dancing, singing) performances that do more than justice to the original work, this is an uplifting, amusing, and immensely entertaining production that I cannot recommend highly enough. The opportunity to hear such lush orchestrations of George Gershwin's (lyrics by Ira Gershwin) music, combined with some extraordinary dance sequences and a compelling story, is one that should not be missed.

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, the most awarded new musical of 2015 and winner of four Tony Awards®, will play in St. Louis at the Fabulous Fox Theatre for a two-week engagement January 17 - 29.

Based on the 1951 Academy Award-Winning Vincente Minnelli film musical of the same name which was inspired by the 1928 orchestral composition by George Gershwin, An American in Paris tells the story of a young American soldier, a mysterious French girl and an indomitable European city, each yearning for a new beginning in the aftermath of World War II.

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, the most awarded new musical of 2015 and winner of four Tony Awards, will play Miami's Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County for a one-week engagement beginning December 27, 2016 through January 1, 2017. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the show!

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, the most awarded new musical of 2015 and winner of four Tony Awards®, will play the Music Hall at Fair Park January 31 - February 12, 2017, for two weeks presented by Dallas Summer Musicals.

Paris is the city of love and this allure draws people to find themselves surrounded by art, light, and human connection. Set to the music of George and Ira Gershwin, the music of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS are instantly recognizable, but come with a twist in interpretation. AN AMERICAN IN PARIS harks back to the Golden Age of Broadway with archetypal characters, upbeat melodies, and long dance pieces.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center celebrates the 25th anniversary of the National Theater Institute's Moscow Art Theater Semester (MATS).

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, the most awarded new musical of 2015 and winner of four Tony Awards, will play Miami's Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County for a one-week engagement beginning December 27, 2016 through January 1, 2017. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the show!

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, the most awarded new musical of 2015 and winner of four Tony Awards®, will play in St. Louis at the Fabulous Fox Theatre for a two-week engagement January 17 - 29.

Glorious Dancing Propels AN AMERICAN IN PARIS Not since Jerome Robbins staged WEST SIDE STORY and Agnes DeMille's historic dream ballet sequences have theatre goers been presented the opportunity to experience Broadway musical story telling through dance. The boldly refreshing new Broadway touring production of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS that is playing at Shea's Buffalo Theatre shows that classical dance and jazz can blend seamlessly.

Joie de vivre is in short supply in AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, the acclaimed Broadway musical now launching its first national tour in Boston through November 6. Inspired by the beloved 1951 MGM movie musical starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron, this Broadway iteration looks and feels monochromatic compared to its opulent Technicolor predecessor, but that is mostly by design. This adaptation brings the story's post World War II setting front and center, revealing a city and its inhabitants still shell shocked as they try to rebuild in the aftermath of the Nazi occupation.

Broadway's Tony Award winning hit "An American in Paris" is dancing its way into Schenectady this week as the musical's first national tour will begin previews at Proctors Theatre this Friday. With a score composed from some of George and Ira Gershwin's most famous tunes, the show follows Jerry Mulligan, an American soldier who decides to stay in Paris following World War II. He soon finds himself not only entangled in the country's luxurious culture and art, but in a love triangle that may lead him to his soul mate. Among the talented cast gathered for the production are Garen Scribner, Sara Etsy, Etai Benson, Ryan Steele, and Emily Ferranti who steps into the role of Milo Davenport. Ferranti was kind enough to speak with us last week in midst of her hectic rehearsal schedule about her excitement to be working on this production.

The producers of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, the most awarded new musical of 2015 and winner of four Tony Awards, have announced the full cast for the upcoming national tour. As previously announced, Jerry Mulligan and Lise Dassin will be played by Garen Scribner and Sara Esty, who performed these leading roles on Broadway. 

Prior to their breakthrough musicals, many writers had extraordinary early-career shows hit the stage that you may not have heard of. From Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty's Lucky Stiff to Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart's Poor Little Ritz Girl to William Finn's In Trousers, these pieces of work represent our best Broadway writers.... before Broadway knew their names. Join us to hear auspicious songs from the influential shows that shaped careers and lives, just as Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater shaped the futures of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken.

Who knew that a show based upon President Kennedy's promise to get a man on the moon could be so entertaining, humorous, and, to put it simply, magnificent? The Blue-Sky Boys, which opened Tuesday at the Capital Repertory Theatre, is written by Deborah Brevoort, under the direction of Gordon Greenberg.

STARS OF DAVID: A MUSICAL, based on the bestselling book by Abigail Pogrebin, conceived by Aaron Harnick & Abigail Pogrebin, will take the stage at 92Y tonight, December 5, 2015. 

STARS OF DAVID: A MUSICAL, based on the bestselling book by Abigail Pogrebin, conceived by Aaron Harnick & Abigail Pogrebin, will take the stage at 92Y on Saturday, December 5, 2015. 

Lawrence Edelson, Producing Artistic Director of American Lyric Theater (ALT), present the company's libretto workshop and upcoming presentation of THE HALLOWEEN TREE today, October 30, 2015, will feature actors Glenn Seven Allen, Etai Benson, Daniel T. Curran, Jesse Geguzis, Emma Grimsley, Conor Guzman, Adam La Faci, Thia Stephan, and Rocky Vega.