Here's One You Don't Wanna Miss!

Below, from our original review of the show:

Every once in awhile something wonderful happens on Broadway.

And, no we don't mean the 2015 Tony award for best musical. That wasn't wonderful, that was just political.

No, we mean something wonderful like when a really "best musical" comes along -- something so beautiful, so melodic, so inspiring and so splendidly mounted and perfectly performed that it sets your spirits soaring and you leave the theater feeling like you've seen something truly transcendent.

When it happens, you know it.

And that's what happens with An American in Paris now gracing the confines of the legendary Palace Theater on Broadway.

In a crass and vulgar world (and amidst a Broadway littered with four-letter words and prurient obsessions) An American in Paris is elegant, sophisticated, wonderfully rich and lushly romantic.

Whether you know the story or not (or whether you've seen the movie or not) makes no difference. Because this is a whole new book and an entirely new concept with the finest dancing, the most inventive scenic design, the most evocative costumes, the best lighting, a magnificent cast of 33 and a 20 piece orchestra.

The romantic post World War II story of a young American soldier, a beautiful French girl and an indomitable European city are at the heart of this breathtakingly beautiful musical. Three men vie for the attentions of this winsome French beauty: Jerry Mulligan (perfectly portrayed by Robert Fairchild), Max Von Essen (Henri Baurel) and Brandon Uranowitz (Adam Hochberg). Mulligan is an artist; Baurel is destined to take over his family's textile business but really wants to be a song-and-dance man and Uranowitz is a musical composer. Lise Dassin (Leanne Cope) is the object of their affections and she is a dream-come-true heroine with a secret past. These four propel the story forward with intoxicating music by the Gershwins and choreographed turns, slides, leaps and pirouettes that you simply will not believe in a syncopated celebration of pop, jazz and modern dance with a bit of the ballet thrown in just for good measure (we are in France, after all).

Fairchild, Cope, Baurel and Hochberg are simply heaven together and you can't help but feel sorry for the two guys who will be left out when Lise finally makes her choice.

Fairchild is marvelously angular, unabashedly romantic and a bit brash. Hochberg is the tortured intellectual with a keen eye and natural talent. Baurel is the repressed only child who harbors neon dreams within a delicate, sensitive shell. And Cope is the lithe and enchanting Parisian who is wise beyond her years. All four of them have been scarred in one way or another by the horrors of World War II.

Christopher Wheeldon's direction and choreography are nothing less than miraculous. Bob Crowley's sets (featuring dreamy projections) and costumes (flattering the mid-century New Look) are a joy. Craig Lucas' book is daringly relevant without being preachy.

And, the entire production is laced with that great music: I've Got Rhythm, The Man I Love, Liza, Fidgety Feet, Who Cares?, But Not For Me, I've Got Beginner's Luck, 'S Wonderful, I'll Build A Stairway to Paradise, They Can't Take That Away From Me and An American in Paris.

It's all absolutely astonishing!

Trust us: You miss this one at your own peril. Don't deprive yourself. Get your tickets now!

New Play Focuses On Life Of Dick Gregory

John Legend and Get Lifted Film Co. present a new comedic drama about the extraordinary and explosive life of Dick Gregory--starring Scandal's Joe Morton--that shines a light on the first Black comedian to expose white audiences to racial comedy. Gregory confronted bigotry with shockingly disarming humor, marched alongside Martin Luther King, and deeply influenced comics from Richard Pryor to Chris Rock. He’s been a prolific writer, muckraker, provocateur, candidate for mayor of Chicago and for president of the United States. 

He was singled out by President Obama as one of his all-time favorite comedians. Experience the comic genius of Dick Gregory and the poetic final words of his mentor, slain civil rights activist, Medgar Evers: “Turn Me Loose.”

Previews begin MAY 3, 2016 at The Westside Theatre (407 West 43rd Street). Opening Off-Broadway MAY 19, 2016.

For tickets, visit http://www.turnmelooseplay.com!

Drama League Announces 2016 Award Nominees

The New York Drama League has now announced its nominations for the year's best on Broadway and off Broadway. Here they are:

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A BROADWAY OR OFF-BROADWAY PLAY
10 Out Of 12, Eclipsed, The Father, Gloria, Hir, The Humans, King Charles III, Marjorie Prime, The Royale, Skeleton Crew

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A BROADWAY OR OFF-BROADWAY PLAY
Awake and Sing!, Blackbird, Cloud Nine, The Crucible, The Gin Game, Long Day’s Journey into Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Noises Off, Sense and Sensibility, A View from the Bridge

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION OF A BROADWAY OR OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL
American Psycho, Bright Star, Dear Evan Hansen, Futurity, Hamilton, iOW@, On Your Feet!, School of Rock, Tuck Everlasting, Waitress

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A BROADWAY OR OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL
The Color Purple, Dames at Sea, Fiddler on the Roof, She Loves Me, Spring Awakening

NOMINEES FOR THE DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE AWARD
One winner is selected from this category. The recipient can only receive this award once during his or her career.
Nina Arianda, Fool for Love
Annaleigh Ashford, Sylvia
Laura Benanti, She Loves Me
Reed Birney, The Humans
Alex Brightman, School of Rock, The Musical
Danny Burstein, Fiddler on the Roof
Timothee Chalamet, Prodigal Son
Kelley Curran, The Dingdong
Carmen Cusack, Bright Star
Jeff Daniels, Blackbird
Khris Davis, The Royale
Daveed Diggs, Hamilton
Georgia Engel, John
Cynthia Erivo, The Color Purple
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Fully Committed
Lynda Gravatt, Skeleton Crew
Michael C. Hall, Lazarus
Anne Hathaway, Grounded
Megan Hilty, Noises Off
Jackie Hoffman, Once Upon a Mattress
Jayne Houdyshell, The Humans
Jennifer Hudson, The Color Purple
Marin Ireland, Ironbound
Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Tuck Everlasting
Leslie Kritzer, The Robber Bridegroom
Jessica Lange, Long Day’s Journey into Night
Judith Light, Therese Raquin
Zachary Levi, She Loves Me
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton
Jessie Mueller, Waitress
Kristine Nielsen, Hir
Lupita Nyong’o, Eclipsed
Sophie Okonedo, The Crucible
Annette O’Toole, Southern Comfort
Tim Pigott-Smith, King Charles III
Ben Platt, Dear Evan Hansen
Phylicia Rashad, Head of Passes
Sam Rockwell, Fool for Love
Thomas Jay Ryan, 10 Out of 12
Michael Shannon, Long Day’s Journey into Night
Jennifer Simard, Disaster!
Lois Smith, Marjorie Prime and John
Mark Strong, A View from the Bridge
Cicely Tyson, The Gin Game
Michael Urie, Shows for Days
Ana Villafane, On Your Feet!
Benjamin Walker, American Psycho
Nicola Walker, A View from the Bridge
Ben Whishaw, The Crucible
Michelle Williams, Blackbird

The Drama League also wishes to acknowledge the previous recipients of the Distinguished Performance Award who appeared in New York productions this season:
James Earl Jones, The Gin Game
Patti LuPone, Shows For Days
Frank Langella, The Father
Mary-Louise Parker, Heisenberg
Mark Rylance, Nice Fish
Sam Waterston, The Tempest

Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre
Sheldon Harnick

Unique Contribution to the Theatre
Deaf West Theatre

Founders Award for Excellence in Directing
Ivo van Hove

2016 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominees Announced!

The New York Outer Critics Circle has announced nominations for the 2015-16 Broadway season.
The Outer Critics Circle is the organization of writers covering New York theatre for out-of-town newspapers, national publications and other media beyond Broadway representing more than 90 newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, websites and theatre publications in America and abroad. The Outer Critics Circle nominations are the first major Broadway/Off-Broadway award nominations of the New York theatre season.

Here is the full list of nominees:

OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY PLAY
Eclipsed
The Father
The Humans
King Charles III
Thérèse Raquin

OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY MUSICAL
American Psycho the Musical
Bright Star
On Your Feet!
Tuck Everlasting the Musical
Waitress

OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY PLAY
The Christians
Familiar
Gloria
Hold On to Me Darling
The Legend of Georgia McBride

OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL
Cagney
Daddy Long Legs
Dear Evan Hansen
Lazarus
Southern Comfort

OUTSTANDING BOOK OF A MUSICAL
(Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Bright Star
Daddy Long Legs
Dear Evan Hansen
Lazarus
On Your Feet!

OUTSTANDING NEW SCORE
(Broadway or Off-Broadway)
American Psycho the Musical
Bright Star
Daddy Long Legs
Dear Evan Hansen
Waitress

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A PLAY
(Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Blackbird
The Crucible
Fool for Love
Long Day’s Journey Into Night
A View From the Bridge

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
(Broadway or Off-Broadway)
The Color Purple the Musical
Dames at Sea
Fiddler on the Roof
She Loves Me
Spring Awakening

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A PLAY
Evan Cabnet Gloria
Mike Donahue The Legend of Georgia McBride
Rupert Goold King Charles III
Joe Mantello The Humans
Ivo van Hove A View From the Bridge

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL
Michael Arden Spring Awakening
Walter Bobbie Bright Star
Scott Ellis She Loves Me
Rupert Goold American Psycho the Musical
Michael Greif Dear Evan Hansen

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHER
Joshua Bergasse Cagney
Spencer Liff Spring Awakening
Josh Rhodes Bright Star
Randy Skinner Dames at Sea
Sergio Trujillo On Your Feet!

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN
(Play or Musical)
Beowulf Boritt Thérèse Raquin
David Korins Misery
Mimi Lien John
David Rockwell She Loves Me
Walt Spangler Tuck Everlasting the Musical

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN
(Play or Musical)
ESosa On Your Feet!
Jane Greenwood Bright Star
Katrina Lindsay American Psycho the Musical
Jeff Mahshie She Loves Me
Tom Scutt King Charles III

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN
(Play or Musical)
Donald Holder She Loves Me
Natasha Katz Long Day’s Journey Into Night
Kenneth Posner On Your Feet!
Ben Stanton Spring Awakening
Justin Townsend American Psycho the Musical

OUTSTANDING PROJECTION DESIGN
(Play or Musical)
Lucy MacKinnon Spring Awakening
Peter Nigrini Grounded
Peter Nigrini Dear Evan Hansen
Finn Ross American Psycho the Musical
Tal Yarden Lazarus

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Reed Birney The Humans
Gabriel Byrne Long Day’s Journey Into Night
Frank Langella The Father
Mark Strong A View From the Bridge
Ben Whishaw The Crucible

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Jayne Houdyshell The Humans
Jessica Lange Long Day’s Journey Into Night
Lupita Nyong’o Eclipsed
Nicola Walker A View From the Bridge
Michelle Williams Blackbird

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Alex Brightman School of Rock the Musical
Danny Burstein Fiddler on the Roof
Robert Creighton Cagney
Ben Platt Dear Evan Hansen
Benjamin Walker American Psycho the Musical

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Laura Benanti She Loves Me
Carmen Cusack Bright Star
Cynthia Erivo The Color Purple the Musical
Jessie Mueller Waitress
Ana Villafañe On Your Feet!

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY
Sanjit De Silva Dry Powder
Matt McGrath The Legend of Georgia McBride
Jim Norton The Crucible
Robert Sella Sylvia
Michael Shannon Long Day’s Journey Into Night

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Pascale Armand Eclipsed
Zainab Jah Eclipsed
Judith Light Thérèse Raquin
Saycon Sengbloh Eclipsed
Myra Lucretia Taylor Familiar 

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Nicholas Barasch She Loves Me
Roger Bart Disaster!
Michael Esper Lazarus
Christopher Fitzgerald Waitress
Terrence Mann Tuck Everlasting the Musical

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Danielle Brooks The Color Purple the Musical
Andrea Burns On Your Feet!
Sophia Anne Caruso Lazarus
Jane Krakowski She Loves Me 
Heléne Yorke American Psycho the Musical

OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE
Mike Birbiglia Thank God For Jokes
Kathleen Chalfant Rose
Anne Hathaway Grounded 
James Lecesne The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey
Daphne Rubin-Vega Empanada Loca

JOHN GASSNER AWARD
(Presented for an American play, preferably by a new playwright)
Lindsey Ferrentino Ugly Lies the Bone
Lauren Gunderson I and You
Martyna Majok Ironbound
Marco Ramirez The Royale
Anna Ziegler Boy

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
James Houghton Signature Theatre Company

These shows had three or more nominations: American Psycho the Musical – 8, She Loves Me – 8, Bright Star – 7, On Your Feet – 7, Dear Evan Hansen – 6, Eclipsed – 5, Lazarus – 5, Long Day’s Journey Into Night – 5, Spring Awakening – 5, A View From the Bridge – 4, The Humans – 4, Waitress – 4, Cagney – 3, Daddy Long Legs – 3, King Charles III – 3, The Color Purple the Musical – 3, The Crucible – 3, The Legend of Georgia McBride – 3, Thérèse Raquin – 3, Tuck Everlasting the Musical – 3.

The winners will be announced May 9, and the annual Gala Awards Dinner will be held 4 PM May 26 at Sardi's Restaurant.

A World-Class Actor Returns To Broadway!

The Father: http://thefatherbroadway.com/

MTC presents the American Premiere of the new play by Florian Zeller, with translation by Two-Time Tony Award Winner Christopher Hampton. Directed by Tony Award winner Doug Hughes, and starring Frank Langella.

Three-time Tony Award winner Frank Langella returns to the stage in The Father, an all new Broadway production of the play which captivated Paris and London. Winner of the Molière Award, France’s most prestigious honor for a new work of theater, and The Guardian’s pick for Best Play of the Year. Nominated for three 2016 Olivier Awards, including Best New Play.

Critics from London’s Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph, Times, The Guardian, The Mail on Sunday, The Observer, The Daily Mail, The Sunday Telegraph, Evening Standard, and The Financial Times all gave the play five stars. The Guardian called Zeller’s work “an astonishingly unguarded play about the cruelties of love and the limits of patience.” The Evening Standard called The Father “perfectly measured and quietly devastating.”

Now 80 years old, André (Frank Langella) was once a tap dancer. He lives with his daughter Anne (Kathryn Erbe) and her husband Antoine. Or was he an engineer whose daughter Anne lives in London with her new lover, Pierre? The thing is, he is still wearing his pajamas, and he can’t find his watch. He is starting to wonder if he’s losing control.

Winner of the Molière Award, France's most prestigious honor for a new work of theater, and The Guardian’s pick for Best Play of the Year.

By special arrangement with Theatre Royal Bath Productions. Lead support for The Father has been provided by MTC’s Producing Fund Partner, Andrew Martin-Weber. Special thanks to The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust for supporting Manhattan Theatre Club.