Bruce Wall Posted March 7, 2015 Author Share Posted March 7, 2015 (edited) See Ms. Cope and Mr. Wheeldon on their first day in the Palace (Theater that is ) here. Edited March 7, 2015 by Bruce Wall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebird Posted March 16, 2015 Share Posted March 16, 2015 There was an item on An American in Paris on yesterday's CBS Sunday Morning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKx5wuN_3SE Some of it seemed familiar to me and I suspect may have been available on line for some time. Still, it's good for the show to have exposure on network television. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 I wonder if - once they are in a regular Broadway run/schedule - and once Mr. Fairchild returns to his duties as a NYCB principal - which I'm sure he will do in a split role with his Broadway assignment - (much as his wife is doing in taking over certain performances for her sister-in-law [another NYCB principal, Megan Fairchild] in On Your Town currently on Broadway) - I wonder if Ms. Cope might not guest for a couple of performances (no more) with NYCB in, say, Liebeslieder Waltzer or, certainly, Robbin's Fancy Free - both of which are key in Mr. Fairchild's vast rep. Perhaps they could even do Wheeldon's Carousel spin and she could do the role that was Mr. Fairchild's wife's first principal creation (at 17) with NYCB, then opposite the legendary Damian Woetzel. I've only just caught up with this thread for some reason. Bruce, your refusal to mention people by name, but only by relationship is headache-inducing and makes this sound like a particularly tough logic problem. You know, the sort where you have a grid which allows you to relate all the categories to each other, and where the clues read "Mrs Adams is older than the woman at number 23, but younger than the man at number 41. Lucy's surname is not Martin, and she lives in an even-numbered house ..."! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 I was at the first NY preview of “An American in Paris” last Friday, March 13. I am not sure whose idea it was to start the preview period on Friday the 13th. I am still in a dream state with Wheeldon’s ballet scene. We, on the US side, always knew how good Fairchild is, but we are very lucky to have Cope in NY. She is cute and looks innocent, but somehow manages “femme fatale” look from time to time. She can make you believe how 3 guys (1 French and 2 Americans) would fall for her. I certainly did. Particularly with her use of arms in the ballet scene. For Wheeldon, this will not be another “Sweet Smell of Success”. He has created something new from this very traditional American musical story. I felt that the book needed some tightening (some jokes were not working, and there were some awkward silences), and I am sure they will continue to work prior to their opening night. During curtain call, the first preview audience went wild, and Cope was in tears. She really looked overwhelmed. I hope her decision to take a leave from Royal is paying off for her. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Hello Texan and welcome to the Forum. I hope you will continue to post! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted March 20, 2015 Share Posted March 20, 2015 Me too. Feedback from outside the UK is always welcome, as are you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted April 10, 2015 Author Share Posted April 10, 2015 (edited) Interesting article in Variety on the realities of/behind AiP's Paris tryout and the potential for future such undertakings; plus a different take on a similar theme (i.e., the show) in the Chicago Tribune. AiP officially opens on Broadway this Sunday. On an encouraging note the NYT's Artsbeat reported that over the Easter week: Among the other new shows, the dance-heavy musical “An American in Paris,” based on the 1951 film, looks especially healthy, grossing $967,000 in eight preview performances. Edited April 10, 2015 by Bruce Wall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted April 10, 2015 Author Share Posted April 10, 2015 (edited) Fascinating / in-depth Broadway.com featurette on Bob Crowley and his AiP costumes/sets. Also a report noting that AiP will release a cast album on 2nd June. Edited April 10, 2015 by Bruce Wall 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Newcombe Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 Fascinating / in-depth Broadway.com featurette on Bob Crowley and his AiP costumes/sets. Also a report noting that AiP will release a cast album on 2nd June. Thank you Bruce. Swonderful catching a few tantalising clips of the magical Ms. Cope. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddy Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 Thank you also, Bruce. I've not had a chance to look at these but will do so as soon as possible. Once again, based on what I saw opening night in Paris, I wish this endeavor all the success possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share Posted April 13, 2015 (edited) Glad to see that the Variety) notes: It’s hard to breathe during the dreamy, 14-minute ballet that brings the show to a close with the lovers locked at last in each other’s arms — not only because the love story is so romantic, but because we rarely see this kind of dancing on Broadway and it’s hard to let it go. Edited April 13, 2015 by Bruce Wall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share Posted April 13, 2015 In reference to the latter point above The Washington Post AiP review concurs: Wheeldon and company’s larger achievement is to confer on “An American in Paris” a contemporary freshness, to convey to Broadway audiences how the rigor of classical dance can be adapted to the musical form in fuller and ever more invigorating ways. The conjoining of these worlds on Broadway makes for one very fortunate collision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebird Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 (edited) The hope that AiP might foster a ballet return to musicals is a potent aspiration. The trade review (Variety) notes: It’s hard to breathe during the dreamy, 14-minute ballet that brings the show to a close with the lovers locked at last in each other’s arms — not only because the love story is so romantic, but because we rarely see this kind of dancing on Broadway and it’s hard to let it go. Thanks for finding these, Bruce. However I couldn't get your link to the Variety review to work. This one seems OK: http://variety.com/2015/legit/reviews/american-in-paris-review-broadway-1201471069/ Edited April 13, 2015 by Bluebird Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambros1a Posted April 13, 2015 Share Posted April 13, 2015 Links to more reviews via this Playbill article: http://playbill.com/news/article/the-verdict-read-reviews-of-gershwin-musical-an-american-in-paris-on-broadway-346583 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share Posted April 13, 2015 Some Leanne Cope selfies now found here from the Broadway opening/Gypsy Robe ceremony. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted April 14, 2015 Author Share Posted April 14, 2015 (edited) The Box Office Reports for the last week have just come out and - in its last week of previews on Broadway - An American in Paris played to 98% capacity and drew 78% of its gross even given all the press comps (which on Broadway cover at least two nights and are hearty given the breadth of the North American press), extended members of The Broadway League, etc. - and that was BEFORE THE REVIEWS. Those indications can now realistically suggest I think that they will have a solid/extended commercial run. The strength of its commercial return may also suggest that there could be - in time - a commercial London production ... or perhaps a Paris return as the Chatelet were core investors in its practical production. Edited April 14, 2015 by Bruce Wall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 Marina Harss did a piece for DanceTabs and chatted to Wheeldon, Leanne Cope and Robert Fairchild. Good reading, if I say so myself! http://dancetabs.com/2015/04/an-american-in-paris-broadway-ballet/ Good to see it going well for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddy Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 Marina Harss did a piece for DanceTabs and chatted to Wheeldon, Leanne Cope and Robert Fairchild. Good reading, if I say so myself! http://dancetabs.com/2015/04/an-american-in-paris-broadway-ballet/ Good to see it going well for them. Je suis d'accord, Bruce. "Agreed!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share Posted April 17, 2015 For those who might like to see Leanne Cope tackle her first tap shoes you can pull through to approximately 8.04 here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted April 19, 2015 Author Share Posted April 19, 2015 (edited) Two Brits and an American on a Manhattan couch ... chatting ... Oh, and Leanne Cope tries on some potential Broadway opening frocks ... Edited April 19, 2015 by Bruce Wall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 (edited) Nominations for the first major theatre awards of the 2014/15 Broadway season - the long standing Outer Critics Circle Awards - have today been announced. AiP get eight (one more than the Broadway production of Wolf Hall.) Leanne Cope is nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Musical in a very heady (and well established) field. Outstanding New Play will definitely go to a British source as all candidates are from the UK. Christopher Wheeldon is nominated for both Direction of a Musical and Choreography. Fellow Brit Bob Crowley also receives a very well deserved nod for his AiP set designs. (He also gets a costume nomination for The Audience.) American (NYCB prinicpal) Robert Fairchild gets a nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. His sister, (another NYCB principal) Megan Fairchild gets a nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for On the Town. Crucially AiP is nominated as 'Outstanding New Broadway Musical'. That's the 'money in the bank' item. Very often these awards give a strong indication as towards the Tony (Antoinette Perry) Award nominations which will be announced in the last week of this month. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/outer-critics-circle-nominees-announced-something-rotten-leads-the-pack-347165 OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL Kristin Chenoweth On the Twentieth Century Leanne Cope An American in Paris Tyne Daly It Shoulda Been You Kelli O’Hara The King and I Chita Rivera The Visit Edited April 20, 2015 by Bruce Wall 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Macmillan Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 I have to say that, what with one thing and several others, I find it hard to think that Leanne Cope will ever return to the RB now - and the same may apply to Robert Fairchild as regards NYCB. Time will tell ...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 (edited) I honestly can't believe that Robbie Fairchild will leave his principal post with NYCB for Broadway. I'm sure that he - and, indeed, his wife - fellow principal Tiler Peck who has already made her Broadway debut - may well have extended leaves at certain times to create roles in musicals - much, say, as Robbie Le Fosse did for 'Jerome Robbins on Broadway' before returning to finish his lengthy career with NYCB. Surely Fairchild/Peck create far too many roles in too many ballets at NYCB to do otherwise. That is where the real history is made after all. I agree it may be a different situation for Leanne Cope. The well established protocols for promotions at the Royal Ballet may understandably be difficult for her to rightfully manage now. That said I would imagine Cope could now write her own ticket into a senior post in any one of a variety of other much admired companies. People were talking on another BcoF page about a potential guesting slot for the upcoming RB Giselles. I would love to see Ms. Cope and Mr. Fairchild have a crack at that for one or two performances ONLY. Whereas he has danced leads in Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, MSND, Coppelia, Nutcracker, a vast swathe of Balanchine, Robbins, Wheeldon, Ratmansky, etc., (and even had two pieces created for him by Liam Scarlett) he has - as far as I know - never given the world his Albrecht. It would, I think, be a début for both of them. I realise, of course, this is probably not probable for very concrete reasons at the ROH. NYCB is to launch a new production of La Sylphide in the Spring season ... and I'm sure it will be repeated in the Fall and if not then shortly afterwards. it would be lovely if the two of them could do a couple of performances of that perhaps. Certainly Ms. Cope has/will have built her principal stealth through doing eight performances a week as Lise in AiP. Edited April 20, 2015 by Bruce Wall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Newcombe Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 I really hope she does. There are some dramatic roles that many of us would like to see do and I know that there is one MacMillan role that she would love to dance. No, not the one that every other female dancer says that they want to do. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 I'm looking forward to seeing AAIP in May will report back. Sounds like it's going to be really great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 (edited) I really hope she does. There are some dramatic roles that many of us would like to see do and I know that there is one MacMillan role that she would love to dance. No, not the one that every other female dancer says that they want to do. Oh, Tony, I'm sure that Leanne Cope would return to guest with the RB even IF she was to be based at a more senior level elsewhere. She comes across in all interviews and reports as just such a lovely person as well as a talented dancer/performing artiste. Edited April 20, 2015 by Bruce Wall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 (edited) AiP BO climbs 40% after boffo reviews: http://variety.com/2015/legit/news/american-in-paris-sales-broadway-1201475824/ Plus here's yet another addition to the host of praising voices: http://blogcritics.org/theater-review-broadway-an-american-in-paris/ Edited April 20, 2015 by Bruce Wall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted April 20, 2015 Author Share Posted April 20, 2015 (edited) They are obviously recording the AiP album today ... Here's a pic of Fairchild in the process: https://instagram.com/p/1tWqrcRWgr/ Oh, and balletic royalty: https://instagram.com/p/1beWK5OiPt/ Edited April 20, 2015 by Bruce Wall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lyn Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Hm, anyone know if the show will be running beyond November? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted April 21, 2015 Author Share Posted April 21, 2015 Hm, anyone know if the show will be running beyond November? Lyn, I should think the Tony Awards will give you a definitive answer in just over a month. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebird Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 (edited) More award nominations for An American in Paris and Leanne Cope and Robert Fairchild: http://dramaleague.org/events/awards/nominees The nominations were for the 'outstanding production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway musical'and the 'distinguished performance award'. Edited April 21, 2015 by Bluebird 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted April 21, 2015 Author Share Posted April 21, 2015 It is refreshing to note that on Broadway AiP has ONE FIFTEEN MINUTE INTERMISSION. Source: http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/Whos_who/14074 Would that the ROH might follow suit for intervals. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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