Britain loves musicals again. La La Land made us ???? with its primary-coloured positivity, and The Greatest Showman made us ????so much it broke box office records. So why musicals? Why now?
Well, maybe we always loved them. All-singing, all-dancing big screen spectacles used to be everywhere. Musical movie An American in Paris won an incredible six Oscars in 1951. It featured Hollywood legends Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron. It had an uplifting story and incredible tunes like ‘I Got Rhythm’ and ‘I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise’. And it was the main inspiration for La La Land.
“An American in Paris is such a ??stunner,” La La Land director Damien Chazelle told Entertainment Weekly. “It’s an awesome example of how daring some of those old musicals really were... And we just pillaged it.”
Chazelle’s isn’t the only modern – not to mention hugely successful – twist on the daring MGM musical. In 2014, the Royal Ballet’s Christopher Wheeldon created a stage adaptation of An American in Paris. It’s sold out everywhere it’s been in America, France and, most recently, London, where it ran until January 2018. And now, on 16 May, you’ll get to immerse yourself in a sumptuous version captured specially for the big screen.
Seeing as it shares a source of inspiration with La La Land, keep your eyes peeled for these similarities:
Well, maybe we always loved them. All-singing, all-dancing big screen spectacles used to be everywhere. Musical movie An American in Paris won an incredible six Oscars in 1951. It featured Hollywood legends Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron. It had an uplifting story and incredible tunes like ‘I Got Rhythm’ and ‘I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise’. And it was the main inspiration for La La Land.
“An American in Paris is such a ??stunner,” La La Land director Damien Chazelle told Entertainment Weekly. “It’s an awesome example of how daring some of those old musicals really were... And we just pillaged it.”
Chazelle’s isn’t the only modern – not to mention hugely successful – twist on the daring MGM musical. In 2014, the Royal Ballet’s Christopher Wheeldon created a stage adaptation of An American in Paris. It’s sold out everywhere it’s been in America, France and, most recently, London, where it ran until January 2018. And now, on 16 May, you’ll get to immerse yourself in a sumptuous version captured specially for the big screen.
Seeing as it shares a source of inspiration with La La Land, keep your eyes peeled for these similarities:
The yellow dress
La La Land’s Emma Stone and West End principle dancer Leanne Cope shine equally as bright in their retro yellow numbers.
The dreaminess
People loved La La Land for its floating-on-air romance. An American in Paris is every bit as swoony, with dance numbers that shimmer above the moonlit Seine.
The Parisian tableaus
The painterly backdrops of An American in Paris, shown below on the right, aren’t just in the stage show. They were in the original 1951 film and they were the direct inspiration for La La Land’s ‘what might have been’ epilogue.
La La Land parallels are sure to delight film fans, but there’s a lot more to love about this production of An American in Paris. It got 28 five-star reviews (!). It’s also got a killer cast. Leading couple Robert Fairchild and Leanne Cope are both ballet dancers who sing like a dream. And because West End audiences are always in a good mood, that energy comes out in the mass dance numbers. It’s completely infectious, completely uplifting and, seen on the big screen, it could be the best night out you’ve had in years.
Wait, there are style reasons too. How about these facts to persuade a fashion-loving friend?
Wait, there are style reasons too. How about these facts to persuade a fashion-loving friend?
Couture costume
Based on real 1940s illustrations, Bob Crowley???s costume designs were sent to actual Parisian ateliers to be made.
Floaty fabrics
Real 1940s clothes weren’t for dancing, so these use lightweight fabrics to allow more movement and a floaty look.
French chic
Heroine Lise provides style inspo in pastel colours, simple lines and beautiful fabrics. Think Audrey Hepburn meets Audrey Tautou.
Sing all about it! For a gorgeous evening of music, dancing and Parisian style on 16 May, get An American in Paris tickets and times.
