Entertainment Is Alive In Van Wert: TV Is The Pits. Ditch It For Broadway!
Bonjour! February is the month for amore (amour since I'm sticking to French) and the Niswonger is eager to serve it up Broadway-style! An American In Paris is the classic boy meets girl epic love story set in the city of love. On Saturday, February 12, Classical Broadway returns in this riveting adventure set in the French capital in the wake of World War II tells the romantic story of a young American soldier, a beautiful French girl, and a strong-willed European city – each yearning for a new beginning in the aftermath of international conflict. Inspired by the Academy-Award winning 1951 film, the new stage musical features a ravishing score by George and Ira Gershwin and a fresh, sophisticated book by Tony nominee and Pulitzer Prize finalist Craig Lucas. The stage musical An American in Paris opened at the Palace Theatre on Broadway in April 2015, after an engagement at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. The Broadway production ran for 623 performances and led to a successful West End production and US national tour winning many coveted accolades.
Live orchestra music is one of the many essential elements of a Broadway musical. Typically, pit orchestras play in a lowered area in front of the stage called an orchestra pit. Inside the pit, the conductor stands facing towards the stage with their back towards the audience to coordinate the music with the vocals and actions of the singers, dancers, and actors, while the orchestra sits facing the conductor. The orchestra pit at the Niswonger is powered by a hydraulic lift. Just another unique feature of our state-of-the-art facility that surprises touring artists when they perform in Van Wert. It's always a delight to introduce the audience to the Niswonger orchestra pit before the show and during intermission, especially young children who can't believe that the musicians are actually under the stage. Of special interest, in the pit on this performance as part of the production national tour is Northwest Ohio's own Jane Sycks from Bluffton, Ohio on Trumpet.
The original Broadway score by George and Ira Gershwin include well-known favorites, I Got Rhythm, I've Got Beginner's Luck, The Man I Love, Liza, 'S Wonderful, Shall We Dance?, Entr'acte, Fidgety Feet, I'll Build A Stairway to Paradise, An American In Paris, They Can't Take That Away From Me, and more.
The signature song, An American in Paris is a jazz-influenced orchestral piece by American composer George Gershwin first performed in 1928. It was inspired by the time that Gershwin had spent in Paris and evokes the sights and energy of the French capital. The rediscovery of the original taxi horn pitches is just one of many traits that make this An American in Paris sparkle with energy and sophistication. Gershwin’s own original orchestration has been restored, novel colorations are reawakened, and Gershwin’s overall conception sings more clearly. The original saxophone parts have been restored, now featuring a brilliant soprano saxophone trio that amplifies Gershwin’s early jazz-age sizzle. The percussion parts have been repaired, thinned to Gershwin’s original conception, and a lost ratchet part has been recovered. The result making An American in Paris The New Musical even more incisive and dramatic than before.
The hustling and bustling busy sounds of the city that emanate from "The Pit" on February 12, will enthrall the audience as they are transfixed by the love story playing out before their eyes. The senses inspired! Tickets to this adventure are available at vanwertlive.com.