Spellbinding Magical Must-See Show "An American in Paris,” Winner of Four 2015 Tony Awards, Now Thru April 9 at The Pantages

An American in Paris had me at hello even before the opening number began, with the sheer brilliance of the set and video projection. The astonishing work by Tony winners Bob Crowley (set and costume designer), Natasha Katz (lighting designer), and 59 Productions (projections designer), is la piece de la resistance and a magnum opus in and of itself.

When the extraordinary ensemble merely moves panels during scene changes, it's a work of art. As the stage is transformed, you'll be similarly carried away, whether to the Eiffel Tower, the Seine River, or a Masked Ball. There were only sounds of silence in the astute audience…you would hear a pin drop. I was breathless and speechless from beginning to end!

’S Wonderfully directed and choreographed by 2015 Tony Award-winner Christopher Wheeldon, the spectacular show features the music and lyrics of maestros, George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, and a book by Craig Lucas. Although it runs over 2 hrs, the time flew and I yearned for more!

Highlights include “I’ve Got Rhythm,” “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” “The Man I Love,” and “’S Wonderful,” all memorable nostalgic numbers. The tapping in “Fidgety Feet” knocked my socks off! I was harkened back to the days of yore and the glory of musicals restoring sanity to a broken world. Once again, we desperately need that kind of healing to survive these fractured times!

Powers that be out there - are you listening? Wake up and smell the hummus!! Please make musicals that bring dancers to the forefront! There’s an endless array of artistry out there waiting to wow the crowds and keep them cheering the night away!!

And in the words of Henri, “Talent is when you bring people joy and hope…why would you withhold that?”

I especially appreciated when the gifted Garen Scribner as Jerry Mulligan, reprising his Broadway role; Etai Benson (Wicked) as Adam Hochberg; and Nick Spangler (The Book of Mormon, Rogers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella) as Henri Baurel, sang harmonies expressing their different perspectives on pining for Lise Dassin’s affections, performed effortlessly by Sara Esty, reprising her Broadway role.

Being an aficionado of the film, An American in Paris, starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron, I didn’t expect to be as enthralled as I was. The triple threats all stepped up to the plate and I was awed by their A+ game mode, conscious of what it takes to maintain such exuberance, energy, and passion, night after night.

As a former dancer, I’m aware of the determination, discipline, and perseverance necessary to attain such skill, excellence, and expertise. Each and every moment Sara and/or the company went up on toe, I was lifted right along with them. I am once again an admirer of the art form and how “everything is beautiful at the ballet.”

You don’t have to travel 3000 miles to experience spectacular theatre!!! Right in our own backyard, the Hollywood Pantages becomes Radio City Music Hall and the West Coast Broadway. You'll leave the experience, smiling and beaming with an open heart and a new zest for life!!

An American in Paris won four 2015 Tony Awards (Best Choreography, Best Orchestrations by Christopher Austin and Bill Elliott, Best Scenic Design of a Musical, and Best Lighting Design of a Musical), four Drama Desk Awards, four Outer Critics Circle Awards, the Drama League Award for Best Musical, three Fred and Adele Astaire Awards, and two Theatre World Awards.

An American in Paris was included on the Year’s Best lists of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Entertainment Weekly, The New Yorker, the Associated Press, The Hollywood Reporter, and The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The Masterworks Broadway Original Broadway Cast recording of An American in Paris was nominated for the Best Musical Theater Album Grammy Award.

Hollywood's Pantages Theatre, where every seat has a spectacular view, is only a hop skip & a jump from the Metro Red Line Station at the Vine Street exit. You can instantly avoid LA's traffic and parking hassles. The performance schedule for An American in Paris is Tuesday through Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm, and Sunday at 1pm & 6:30pm.

Tickets are on sale and available for purchase at www.HollywoodPantages.com or www.Ticketmaster.com; by phone at 800-982-2787; and at the Hollywood Pantages Box Office (6233 Hollywood Boulevard). The box office opens daily at 10am except for Holidays.

An American in Paris is recommended for ages 6 and up. (Children under 5 will not be admitted to the theatre. All patrons must have a ticket, regardless of age.)

Individual tickets start at $35. Prices are subject to change without notice. For more information, visit www.AnAmericanInParisBroadway.com.