Screen Actors Guild Foundation and BroadwayWorld.com have partnered for a filmed Conversations Q&A series to recognize and celebrate the vibrant theatre community in New York City and the actors who aspire to have a career on the stage and screen. Please join us for a career Conversations with An American in Paris(12 Tony nominations including Best Musical) cast members Leanne Cope, Veanne Cox, Brandon Uranowitz and Max von Essen, book writer Craig Lucas, producer Stuart Oken and director Christopher Wheeldon and moderated by BroadwayWorld.com's Richard Ridge of "Backstage with Richard Ridge!"
Synopsis
An American In Paris is directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon. Inspired by the Academy-Award winning film, An American In Paris brings this classic tale to Broadway for the first time with music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and a book by Tony nominee and Pulitzer Prize finalist Craig Lucas.
An American In Paris is the romantic story of a young American soldier, a beautiful French girl and an indomitable European city, each yearning for a new beginning in the aftermath of war.
Praise for the show
nominated for 12 Tony nominations including Best Musical:
"This rhapsodic production, directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, is a triumph that pays loving tribute to the marraige of music and movement, and to cherished notions about romance that have been a defining element of the American Musical Theater practically since its inception." --The New York Times
"A glorious, thoroughly captivating and breathtakingly fresh new musical!" --The Hollywood Reporter
"Ravishing! It's hard to breathe, not only because the love story is so romantic, but because we rarely see this kind of dancing on Broadway. An enchanting and deeply moving experience!" -- Variety
Panelist Bios
Leanne Cope (Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical)
LEANNE COPE (Lise Dassin) trained at the Royal Ballet school and graduated into the company in 2003. She has created several roles for the company and has built a strong relationship with The Royal Ballets Artist in Resident Liam Scarlett who describes her as having 'a presence on stage like no other.' Cope’s creations include Emily Dimmock and Annie E Crook (Sweet Violets) Gretel (Hansel and Gretel). Other repertoire with the company includes Clara (Nutcracker) Princess Louise (Mayerling) and many more. Leanne is excited to be making her Broadway debut and would not have achieved this without the support of her friends, family and husband.
Veanne Cox
VEANNE COX (Madame Baurel) Broadway: A Free Man of Color, Caroline or Change, The Dinner Party, La Cage aux Folles, Smile, Company (Tony/Drama Desk nominations). Off-Broadway: The Old Friends, and The Most Deserving (2014 Special Drama Desk Award) Spain, and Paradise Park (Obie Award for Sustained Excellence) plays at Signature, Women's Project, Vineyard, Public, MCC, MTC, NYTW, Playwright's Horizons. Regional: Shakespeare Theatre (Helen Hays Nomination) Alley, Guthrie, Yale Rep, Bay Street. TV/Film: “Smash,” “Louie,” “Pan Am,” “Seinfeld,” “Cinderella,” Erin Brockovich, You've Got Mail, Big Eden, Beethoven's 4th, Marci X.
Craig Lucas (Nominated for Best Book of a Musical)
CRAIG LUCAS (Book) Plays: Missing Persons, Reckless, Blue Window, Prelude to a Kiss (Obie, Pulitzer finalist, Tony nom.), God’s Heart, The Dying Gaul, Stranger, Small Tragedy (Obie), Prayer for My Enemy, The Singing Forest (Steinberg), Ode to Joy. Movies: Longtime Companion (Sundance Audience Award), The Secret Lives of Dentists (NY Film Critics), The Dying Gaul. Operas: Orpheus in Love (composer Gerald Busby), Two Boys (composer Nico Muhly). Musicals: Three Postcards, The Light in the Piazza (Tony nom.). Direction: The Dying Gaul (film), Saved or Destroyed (Obie), Play Yourself, world premieres of The Light in the Piazza, Ode to Joy, This Thing of Darkness.
Stuart Oken
STUART OKEN (Producer) leads Elephant Eye Theatrical whose projects have included The Addams Family, Saved and Venice. As Executive VP at Disney Theatrical, he produced The Lion King, Aida and Der Glockner Von Notre Dame. Mr. Oken founded Chicago’s Apollo Theater Center and produced the motion pictures About Last Night, Impromptu, and Queens Logic. He served as President of Witt-Thomas Films at Warner Brothers and founded and served as Artistic Director of The American Music Theatre Project at Northwestern University.
Brandon Uranowitz (Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical)
BRANDON URANOWITZ (Adam Hochberg) Broadway: Baby, It's You! (Stanley/Murray). Nat'l Tour: RENT (dir. Michael Greif). Off-Broadway: Twelfth Night (Feste; Falstaff Award nomination). Regional: Torch Song Trilogy (Arnold; dir. Michael Kahn; Helen Hayes Award nomination); Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound at The Old Globe (Eugene; dir. Scott Schwartz). Film/TV: Stage Fright (Magnolia Pictures); "Inside Amy Schumer," "Law and Order: Criminal Intent," "As The World Turns." Endless thanks to Rachel and Bernie, David and the Nicolosi team. For mom, dad, Michelle, and Zach.
Max von Essen (Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical)
MAX VON ESSEN (Henri Baurel) has appeared on Broadway in Evita, Les Misérables (revival and closing company of the original), Dance of the Vampires, Jesus Christ Superstar and in the Broadway tours of Xanadu and Chicago. Off-B'way: Death Takes a Holiday, Hello Again, and Finian's Rainbow. TV/Film: “Boardwalk Empire,” “The Good Wife,” “Royal Pains,” “Gossip Girl,” "Submissions Only,” Sex and the City 2 and Seven Lovers. More at MaxvonEssen.com. Twitter/Instagram @maxizpad. Pour Carole, à jamais dans mon coeur.
Christopher Wheeldon (Nominated for Best Direction of a Musical)
CHRISTOPHER WHEELDON (Director and Choreographer). Born in England, Christopher danced for The Royal Ballet and New York City Ballet. Christopher has choreographed for Ballet companies worldwide and for television, film and for Broadway. He is the recipient of two Laurence Olivier Awards and is an honorary member of The American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is currently Artistic Associate of The Royal Ballet where he has most recently created the full length story ballet The Winter’s Tale. Christopher is very proud to be making his directorial debut and honors the artists whose film inspired this new stage version of An American In Paris.
