Christopher Wheeldon - An American in Paris - Paris & Broadway

[Bruce Wall]

God forbid. It's difficult enough getting through the queues at the ladies as it is. Not to mention the fact that some people want to socialise/eat/drink.

 

To each their own, Alison.  It might help stop people having to rush out before the end of the performance to meet their train/transport schedule - or some people actually having to miss the last act for the same reason (and their concern of potentially having to disturb others in doing so).  Of course I realise how important the commercial food and drink sales are to the ROH enterprise.  The new development plans both for the ROH and ENO make that practically clear and it is, of course, necessitated by an understandable desire to shift away from the ultimately precarious reliance on any specific rate/quota of state subsidy.  On Broadway while auxiliary concessions are, of course, important, they are not key as towards the prime economic focus/drive of any theatre.  They simply can't be as they are/were not built for it and were never intended to have been.  In that way neither the ROH or the MET, say, would be rightful considerations in this regard - whereas the Koch, for example, might well be as its primary function now is to serve dance (given the sad demise of NYCO).  Balanchine made this clear when he played such a key role in its construct/design.  It too is part of his legacy.  If the historic Broadway theatres - where you literally walk into the auditorium from the street given that many lobbies are so shallow so as to be almost invisible - were to challenge the vast array of restaurants that surround them I think it might well come to proverbial blows by eatery owners - not to mention various trade unions.  Too IF the economy of time at the ROH was to be a bit more strictly pressed in terms of honouring the intervals I have a feeling that overall respect of need would ultimately demand that available female toilet facilities might be made suitable to overall purpose - but this is, of course, well away from the stated topic at hand and so I will stop and shift back to matters with some relevance to AiP's specific regard.   

Edited April 22, 2015 by Bruce Wall

[Bluebird]

Yet more award nominations for An American in Paris:

 

http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/2015-Drama-Desk-Nominations-Announced-Updating-LIVE-20150423

 

Nominated in 12 categories for the 2015 Drama Desk Awards, including outstanding musical and outstanding actor and actress in a musical (Robert Fairchild and Leanne Cope)

Edited April 23, 2015 by Bluebird

[Bruce Wall]

Here is an article (amongst a number today) which points out that AiP - with its 12 60th Annual Drama Desk Nominations - is the BROADWAY show with the MOST nominations.  (This is only really important because this is seen as the prime indicator prior to the Tonys whose nominations are ONLY open to BROADWAY shows as opposed to the Drama Desk which allows/celebrates those shows contractually both ON and OFF BROADWAY).  Many shows that have won a Drama Desk one year and then are moved to Broadwaygo on to win Tonys for that season - although they are, obviously, not again allowed to have a second Drama Desk nomination. 

 

http://emertainmentmonthly.com/2015/04/24/snubs-and-surprises-at-the-2015-drama-desk-awards-nomination-announcements/

 

Here are a couple more celebratory reviews ...; 

 

http://amsterdamnews.com/news/2015/apr/23/american-paris-has-been-reinvented/

 

http://www.courant.com/entertainment/arts-theater/hc-broadway-review-american-in-paris-20150426-story.html

 

There are, of course, more where these came from ...

 

If Leanne Cope does return to the Royal Ballet after her year's leave (which would be due in the Autumn) I very much hope that she might be in line for a Juliet.  She certainly will have deserved it.  She is appearing on Broadway on an Equity exchange programme - which balances working weeks on a fully fair contractual basis between American and British performers in terms of working rights in the two countries and between the two theatre [performance] unions.  (I only know this as I had a hand myself in helping to set up the precedent for the original 'fully fair contractual exchange programme between the USA and the UK' in 1983.  Happily this has since not only persevered but prospered.)  An end date will have been attached by the USCIS to Ms. Cope's permit and they are usually (at least in my experience) very strict about honouring these.  (That's not to say, of course, that the producers could not seek an extension for 'extraordinary merit' - or an alteragtion to her overall status - which in this instance would be unquestionably richly deserved).  Perhaps the balance of her USA working weeks might be (or have been) promised to R. Fairchild towards, say, an AiP London production. That would have been a selling point I know to the 'Alien Committee'.  [in Paris the AiP company were playing under AEA contracts as a 'unit company' and so the exchange agreements would not have applied in that instance for the vast majority of the performers.  Leanne Cope would, of course, have then been performing there under her AEA contractual agreement so her Paris weeks would apply towards her overall exchange count as would her earlier NYC rehearsal/workshop ones.)  

Edited April 24, 2015 by Bruce Wall

[Bruce Wall]

NYC Arts Interview with RB Associate C. Wheeldon: http://watch.thirteen.org/video/2365467031/

 

AiP announces National (USA) tour in the autumn of  2016:  http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Magnifique-AN-AMERICAN-IN-PARIS-to-Launch-National-Tour-Next-Fall-20150424# This should virtually ensure AiP a goodly number of Tony votes as many League voters are regional USA theatre owners/managers.  This too is a good indicator that there may well be a London production in the AiP producers' mix.   Hopefully Ms. Cope will be permitted a further limited period of RB leave in order to open that production were it to occur.   

 

[Ref Item No. 95 above:  Lyn, I think the announcement of the AiP national tour is as good an indication as one can get at this point for a commercial Broadway show with an open-ended run that it will still be running in November.  I would imagine by that time R. Fairchild will be appearing on a split week Broadway schedule in order to allow him to fulfil his continuing role as a NYCB principal.  Certainly he did dance with NYCB during the production break after Paris and during the rehearsals for the AiP Broadway opening.  Ms. Cope may well have contractually returned to the RB.]

Edited April 25, 2015 by Bruce Wall

[Bruce Wall]

The NYT's ArtsBeat reports that AiP has brought in "more money than any of this season’s other new Broadway shows".

 

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/04/27/an-american-in-paris-outsells-other-new-shows-on-broadway/?ref=arts&_r=0

 

The Tony Award nominations will be announced tomorrow.  All the various indicators have bode well for AiP nominations.  

Edited April 27, 2015 by Bruce Wall

[Bruce Wall]

Here is a very moving promo for a 'Dancing Against Cancer' Gala last night in NYC..  I include it here as the first image you see is of R. Fairchild of AiP/NYCB dancing with his wife Tiler Peck (NYCB) in a piece choreographed for them by C. Wheeldon of AiP/RB note.  Gailene Stock's memory is also honoured here by ABT's Hermann Cornejo who will be appearing opposite Ms. A. Ferri (of RB's Woolf Works) in Cheri in the Lindbury in the RB 2015/16 season.

 

https://player.vimeo.com/video/118718377

 

As a survivor myself I must confess I am not particularly taken by much of what is oft put out in the name of the cause.  I found this, however, touching in the extreme.  Somehow the dance itself seemed to be enhanced in the vitality of its purpose.  

Edited April 27, 2015 by Bruce Wall

[Bruce Wall]

At 0844 am in NYC (1344 GMT) Leanne Michelle Cope [stet], currently on leave from the Royal Ballet, received her inaugural Antoinette Perry (Tony) Award Nomination in the category of Best Actress in a Broadway Musical for her performance in RB Associate Christopher Wheeldon's production of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS.  I'm sure we all send our congratulations to her on the occasion of this achievement.  

 

Robert Fairchild got his nomination but seconds earlier in the category for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in An American in Paris. 

 

RB Associate Christopher Wheeldon received a nomination for Best Choreographer of a Musical for An American in Paris at 1347 GMT and for Best Director of a Musical for the same at 1349.

 

Bob Crowley who has designed a number of ROH productions has received two Tony Award AiP nominations for both costumes and scenic design.  He also received a nomination for The Audience.

 

Most crucially An American in Paris is nominated in the category of Best Musical.  

 

There are other AiP nominees. 

 

Here is the list in full from the Daily Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-news/11568167/Tony-Award-nominations-2015-list-in-full-live.html

Edited April 28, 2015 by Bruce Wall

[Bruce Wall]

With a total of 12 AIP is tied with the Broadway Musical 'Fun Home' for the most 2015 Tony Award nominations over ALL categories.  

Edited April 28, 2015 by Bruce Wall

[Bruce Wall]

Here is a succinct breakdown of all of the AiP nominations across the major theatrical awards in the Broadway calendar:

 

http://us9.campaign-archive2.com/?u=6a438960d306f9082e909be1c&id=d0c32c0ca3&e=291c73591b

Edited April 28, 2015 by Bruce Wall

[Bruce Wall]

A fascinating article in the WSJ on the designer, Bob Crowley, the "the first nonproducer to receive four [Tony] nods in a single year"

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-designer-who-is-dominating-the-tonys-1430257636

 

I was particularly taken by one comment that Mr. Crowley made about his scenic design for AN AMERICAN IN PARIS:

 

Two Sentence Article Quote:  "Because the show is so dance-driven, Mr. Crowley avoided mechanical sets that move on and off the stage on tracks in the floor. “There is no way the dancers could pirouette if there were tracks on the floor,” he said. “They would injure themselves.”"

 

This made me think of C. Acosta's production of DON QUIXOTE for the Royal Ballet that was revived this season in London and the injuries that have occurred on/in/around the tracks of that set both in its revival presentation and in its original outing.  (This made me especially think of Ms. Osipova who injured herself when falling on the first act DQ set while doing diagonal pirouettes.)  I very much hope this injury count is not repeated when the RB present this production on the upcoming tour as the sole offering in Chicago and the nation's capital, Washington D. C.  I also hope that scenic lessons have been learned so as not to be repeated within the physical production of Mr. Acosta's CARMEN next season.  

Edited April 30, 2015 by Bruce Wall

[bangorballetboy]

A fascinating article in the WSJ on the designer, Bob Crowley, the "the first nonproducer to receive four [Tony] nods in a single year"[/size]

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-designer-who-is-dominating-the-tonys-1430257636

 

I was particularly taken by one comment that Mr. Crowley made about his scenic design for AN AMERICAN IN PARIS:

 

Two Sentence Article Quote:  "Because the show is so dance-driven, Mr. Crowley avoided mechanical sets that move on and off the stage on tracks in the floor. “There is no way the dancers could pirouette if there were tracks on the floor,” he said. “They would injure themselves.”"[/size]

 

This made me think of C. Acosta's production of DON QUIXOTE for the Royal Ballet that was revived this season in London and the injuries that have occurred on/in/around the tracks of that set both in its revival presentation and in its original outing.  (This made me especially think of Ms. Osipova who injured herself when falling on the first act DQ set while doing diagonal pirouettes.)  I very much hope this injury count is not repeated when the RB present this production on the upcoming tour as the sole offering in Chicago and the nation's capital, Washington D. C.  I also hope that scenic lessons have been learned so as not to be repeated within the physical production of Mr. Acosta's CARMEN next season.

 

There are no tracks on the stage in RB's Don Q.

[Bruce Wall]

There are no tracks on the stage in RB's Don Q.

 

Thank you for that official clarification.  

Edited May 1, 2015 by Bruce Wall

[Bruce Wall]

A 15 minute interview with Christopher Wheeldon on Public Radio International (PRI) in which he discusses growing up in South West England, choreographing at 12 at the RBS, the impact of Robbins on his theatrical acumen and during which we hear Robbie Fairchild sing in a snippet from the upcoming AiP original cast album to be publicly released on 2nd June 2015.  Wheeldon reveals that 23 minutes was cut from the Paris AiP production in preparation for Broadway.  

Edited May 5, 2015 by Bruce Wall

[Bluebird]

Yet more award nominations for Wheeldon, Cope and Fairchild:

 

http://www.theatermania.com/broadway/news/2015-astaire-award-nominations-announced_72779.html

 

Edited to add that the nominations are for the 2015 Fred and Adele Astaire Awards.  Jill Paice was also nominated for her role in American in Paris.

Edited May 5, 2015 by Bluebird

[bangorballetboy]

Thank you for that official clarification.

 

I see you edited your post to add the word "official". Nothing "official" about my "clarification" (I am my own person and not just a moderator and trustee); I was merely correcting the ludicrous supposition on which you were basing your comment.

[Bruce Wall]

C. Wheeldon, L. Cope and R. Fairchild - all for AiP - have been nominated for 2015 Fred and Adele Astaire Awards

 

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/an-american-in-paris-on-the-town-and-on-the-twentieth-century-lead-astaire-award-nominations-348315

[Bruce Wall]

Leanne Cope has WON the Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence (which is part of the 71st Annual Theater World Awards) for her AiP performance.  I am sure we all congratulate Ms. Cope on this achievement.  (You may remember Ms. Loudon as - among many other Broadway credits - she originated - and received a Tony Award for her performance as - Miss Hannigan in Annie.  Theater World is itself a long-standing theatrical publication issued annually.)  The actual award in honour of Ms. Loudon will be presented to Ms. Cope (a RB First Artist currently on leave from the Company) on 1st June 2015 at the Lyric Theater in NYC by Dame Diana Rigg.  Robert Fairchild (AiP) and his sister, Megan Fairchild, (On The Town) have both been honoured with Theater World Awards for their Broadway débuts in musicals.  Both are principal dancers with NYCB.  This is the first time that two siblings have won Theater World Awards in the same Broadway season.  Britons Alex Sharp and Ruth Wilson also received Theater World Awards for their dramatic débuts on Broadway during this past season.

 

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/broadway-siblings-megan-and-robert-fairchild-among-71st-annual-theatre-world-award-winners-348368

Edited May 5, 2015 by Bruce Wall

[Jan McNulty]

Feature on Robert Fairchild and Tony Yazbeck (in On the Town) in the NY Times.

[Bruce Wall]

Interview with AiP's Leanne Cope in The Washington Post.   The interviewer, Sarah Kaufman, takes pains to point out that Ms. Cope is 'on leave from the Royal Ballet'.  

 

-----

 

Charles Isherwood (second drama critic of the NYT) says that AiP WILL (and 'should') win the 2015 Best Musical Tony.  (That's most vital as it will do the most to ensure a long commercial run for the AiP Broadway production and increase the likelihood of a more rapidly produced London version.)  He also suggests that Christopher Wheeldon WILL (and 'should') win the 2015 Tony for Best Director of a Musical.  That should help Mr. Wheeldon in developing further such projects should he wish to pursue such.  He also suggests that Max von Essen WILL (and 'should') win the Best Supporting Actor in a Musical 2015 Tony for his AiP performance as Henri.  Source. 

Edited May 8, 2015 by Bruce Wall

[Bruce Wall]

In reference to the second section of the previous post, the long standing principal drama critic of the NYT (Ben Brantley) makes his selections as to what (i) will and (ii) should win key Tony Awards on 7th June.  He feels that AiP WILL win as Best Musical and Christopher Wheeldon WILL be crowned Best Director of a Musical.  On neither count does he believe they are the candidates who 'should' by rights win on this occasion.  Source.  

Edited May 8, 2015 by Bruce Wall

[Bruce Wall]

Some touching words about Leanne Cope by fellow AiP cast member, Veanne Cox.  

 

http://www.cityguideny.com/article/American-in-Paris-#.VU4iIo5Viko

[Bruce Wall]

Here is an interview with Leslie Caron in The Daily Beast who is more than generous about the Royal Ballet First Artist, Leanne Cope, who is currently on leave from the Company to appear on Broadway in AN AMERICAN IN PARIS as Lise, (the role Caron originated).and for which she has been nominated for a 2015 Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical Tony Award::

 

"She radiates real enthusiasm and a healthy ‘no neurosis’ openness about the discipline demanded in that profession.”

Edited May 10, 2015 by Bruce Wall

[Buddy]

Thanks very much, Bruce, for posting this very fine interview. I totally agree with Leslie Caron's enthusiasm for Leanne Cope, which is amplified in a paragraph after your quote. 

 

I love this mention of Leslie Caron, herself.

 

“Caron virtually blushed when I asked her to repeat the lavish praise Renoir [“Jean Renoir. The French director and screenwriter”] once bestowed upon her. “He wrote in his book that his father (impressionist artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir) would have painted me not once, not twice, but all his life.”

[Bruce Wall]

The production of An American in Paris now on Broadway WINS four Outer Critics Awards (now in their 65th year).  

 

It won awards for Best Musical, Best Director of a Musical (C. Wheeldon), Best Choreography (C. Wheeldon) and Best Actor in a Musical (R. Fairchild, a NYCB principal).

 

I am sure we all send congratulations to the Royal Ballet Associate, Briton Christopher Wheeldon on these achievements.  

 

Additionally, fellow Britons Alex Sharp, Dame Helen Mirren, Richard McCabe, Marianne Elliott and Jim Dale also won 2015 Outer Critics Awards.

 

These Awards will be presented on 21st May in Sardi's Restaurant. 

 

http://deadline.com/2015/05/outer-critics-circle-awards-curious-incident-of-the-dog-in-the-night-time-american-in-paris-1201424340/

 

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/curious-incident-top-winner-at-outer-critics-circle-awards-348762

Edited May 11, 2015 by Bruce Wall

[Bruce Wall]

It appears that AiP is now a bona fide Broadway smash from a fiscal perspective.  Apparently it is the only one of the four key musicals nominated for the 2015 Best Musical Tony Award to have proven so at this juncture.

 

 

"Advance sales for “An American in Paris” have climbed past $10 million, theater sources say. That’s nearly double what the advance was seven weeks ago, when the show began previews at the Palace Theatre."

 

 

"http://nypost.com/2015/05/12/box-office-hit-american-in-paris-dances-ahead-of-fellow-tony-nominees/

Edited May 13, 2015 by Bruce Wall

[Bruce Wall]

Briton Anna Wintour is to personally oversee Leanne Cope's (AiP/RB) fashion for Tony night.  Vogue is covering costs.  

 

http://nypost.com/2015/05/14/tony-awards-enlist-anna-wintour-to-fix-its-fashion-disaster/

Edited May 15, 2015 by Bruce Wall

[alison]

Lucky Leanne.  I think .  Wintour has a reputation for being rather terrifying, doesn't she?  Certainly as long as there are no Federers around

[bangorballetboy]

Lucky Leanne. I think . Wintour has a reputation for being rather terrifying, doesn't she? Certainly as long as there are no Federers around

Often known as "Nuclear" Wintour!

[capybara]

 Certainly as long as there are no Federers around

 

What is the 'in joke' here, please?

[Don Q Fan]

I saw AiP on Sunday. I enjoyed the show very much and Leanne Cope was the star of the show without doubt. It was her show and she danced beautifully. The show is simply a superb combination of dance, ballet and song. Definitely see it if you can.

Note:- My seat was not great despite being front row balcony - it had a safety bar in front and if you sat back in your seat you could not see the stage at all so if you are booking Balcony seats book row B and above the rake is steep so you would have a no heads in front view anyway. I ended up with back ache as I had to lean forward the whole time to see.

Edited May 15, 2015 by Don Q Fan

[alison]

What is the 'in joke' here, please?

 

Just that I understand she's a huge fan of Roger Federer.  I thought it might make her a little less ... intimidating

[Bruce Wall]

AiP has now received the prestigious Drama League Award as Best Musical.  Briton Stephen Daldry was also given a special honour for direction given that within a calendar year he has directed both 'Skylight' and 'The Audience' both on Broadway and in the West End..  

 

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/05/15/drama-league-names-an-american-in-paris-best-musical/?ref=arts&_r=0

Edited May 15, 2015 by Bruce Wall

[Bruce Wall]

It appears possible that Leanne Cope (RB/AiP) and R. Fairchild (NYCB/AiP) (both Tony nominated) will be performing in the 2015 Tony broadcast as well as possibly M. Fairchild (NYCB/On the Town) as casts of both An American in Paris and On the Town are to be featured in the CBS broadcast on 7th June to be hosted by Kristin Chenoweth and Briton Alan Cumming.  

 

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/see-which-non-nominated-shows-will-perform-on-2015-tony-awards-broadcast-349550

 

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tonys-2015-vanessa-hudgens-matthew-797211

Edited May 21, 2015 by Bruce Wall