On the Run : An American in Paris at Alley Theatre Extends Through June 22!

An American in ParisWords and Music byGeorge Gershwin and Ira GershwinBook by Ken LudwigEXTENDED again thru June 22nd!The hilarious new musical comedy The Gershwins’ An American in Paris takes a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the legendary movie-musical. Reuniting Ken Ludwig, George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin – the team behind the Broadway smash Crazy For You – this new American musical tells the story of Michel Gerard, the greatest music hall singer in Paris. When Michel fails to turn up at Monumental Pictures’ Paris studio for the filming of a new musical, Studio Chief Louis Goldman sends his practical, no-nonsense secretary, Rebecca Klemm, to find the missing star –and when the legendary Parisian crosses swords with the indomitable American, nothing short of fireworks ensue. Don’t miss this blissful prequel to the famous movie, featuring some of the best-loved songs written by George and Ira Gershwin including: "S’ Wonderful," "They All Laughed," "Stairway to Paradise" and many more.With Words and Music by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin, Book by Ken Ludwig, Musical Supervisor Rob Berman, Choreography by Randy Skinner and Directed by Alley Artistic Director Gregory Boyd.About the Cast:Jeffry Denman (Preston) made his Broadway debut in the revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. His other Broadway credits include the Johnny Mercer musical review Dream, the final cast of Cats (Munkustrap) and the original Mel Brooks’ The Producers. He has performed in concert with Marvin Hamlisch and The National Symphony at the Kennedy Center and with Michael Feinstein at Carnegie Hall. Denman has performed at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, the Fox Theatre, Portland Stage in Maine, Ordway Center and Ogunquit Playhouse.Stephen DeRosa (Hamish) performed on Broadway as First Beard and Max Jacobs in Twentieth Century, as Bardolph, Justic Shallow and Justice Silence in Henry IV, as Wilbur Turnblad in Hairspray, as Baker in Into the Woods and as Professor Metz in The Man Who Came to Dinner.Broadway veteran Felicia Finley (Hermia) has performed on Broadway as Linda in The Wedding Singer, Amneris in Aida, April in The Life and in Smokey Joe’s Cafe. Finley toured in Jekyll and Hyde and Jesus Christ Superstar and was in Off-Broadway productions Forbidden Broadway (SVU and 2001 Space Odyssey). Finley has also performed at the Paper Mill Playhouse, Ogunquit Playhouse and Helen Hayes Theatre.Harry Groener (Michel Gerard) is a three-time Tony Award nominee, including 1992 Best Actor in a Musical for Bobby Child in Ken Ludwig’s Crazy For You and Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Cats in 1983 and Oklahoma! in 1980. Other Broadway roles include: King Arthur in Spamalot, George (Act I and Act II) in Sunday in the Park with George, and Edward Harrigan in Harrigan ‘n Hart, receiving a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. Groener is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Richard Wilkins, the evil mayor of Sunnydale on the cult TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." He has performed in many regional theatres including the Old Globe Theatre (where he is an associate artist), Mark Taper Forum, Westwood Playhouse, South Coast Repertory, Long Wharf Theater, A.C.T., and the Williamstown Theater Festival.Alix Korey (Hilda) was nominated for two Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for Listen to My Heart and Wild Party. She performed on Broadway in All Shook Up, Triumph of Love, Chicago, The Pirates of Penzance and the 1978 revival of Hello, Dolly!, among others. She is featured on several albums including Songs You Might Have Missed and Gifts of Love.Kerry O’Malley (Miss Klemm) has appeared in the Broadway revivals of Into the Woods and Annie Get Your Gun. Her film credits include the upcoming Case 39 opposite Renee Zellweger, M. NightShyamalan’s The Happening, The Flying Scissors and Rounders. Television credits include Mary-Kate on "Brotherhood"(Showtime), series regular on "Costello"and "The Mike O'Malley Show," "Law & Order: SVU," "Monk," "Without a Trace," "My Name is Earl," "King of Queens," "Kidnapped," "Charmed," "Law & Order," "NYPD Blue" and "Brooklyn South.’Ron Orbach (Louis Goldman) has performed on Broadway as Amos Hart in the first national tour of Chicago, where heearned the 1997 Jeff Award and a 1998 Theater LA-Ovations nomination for the original national touring company, and Ira Stone in Laughter on the 23rd Floor. His TV credits include "Without A Trace", "Law & Order", "Law & Order: Criminal Intent", "Third Watch", and "Platypus Man." His film credits include Clueless and Building Girl.Meredith Patterson (Yvette) made her Broadway debut as Peggy Swayer in the revival of 42nd Street and later performed this role in a production in Moscow. Her TV debut was in "ABC’s Boston Legal" and her film credits include Company Man, Broken Flowers and The Princess Diaries II: Royal Engagement. She has performed in Geffen Playhouse in The Underpants.Also included in the cast of The Gershwins’ An American in Paris are Jeremy Benton as Ensemble, Sara Brians as Female Ensemble Swing, Sae La Chin as Ensemble, Erin Crouch as Ensemble, Lianne Marie Dobbs as Ensemble, Michael Thomas Holmes as Ensemble, Drew Humphrey as Ensemble, Wendy James as Ensemble, Matthew Kirk as Male Ensemble Swing, Tony Lawson as Ensemble, Alison Levenberg as Ensemble, Joseph Medeiros as Ensemble, Shannon M. O’Bryan as Ensemble, James Patterson as Ensemble, Wes Pope as Ensemble, Benjie Randall as Ensemble, Kristen J. Smith as Ensemble, JD Webster as Ensemble, Kristen Beth Williams as Ensemble.About the Creative Team:About George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin:The brothers George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin are among America’s greatest artists. Together, the Gershwins collaborated with DuBose Heyward on the American folk opera Porgy and Bess. Ira and George’s first Hollywood musical collaboration was Shall We Dance, the seventh of the ten film musicals featuring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. In 1931, the brothers collaborated on the score for the Broadway show, Of Thee I Sing, which became the first musical play to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Drama.George Gershwin is also known for his orchestral works, "Rhapsody in Blue" and "An American in Paris," and "Concerto in F." Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin’s older brother, enjoyed a career that spanned over 40 years, and included collaborations with Jerome Kern, Kurt Weill, and Harold Arlen.About Ken Ludwig:In addition to authoring recent Alley Theatre world premieres, Be My Baby, Leading Ladies, and Treasure Island, Ken Ludwig is an Associate Artist of the Alley and is the author of several Broadway and London hits. Ludwig’s Crazy for You ran for 1622 performances on Broadway, won the Tony, Olivier, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Helen Hayes Awards as Best Musical of the Year and was broadcast nationwide on PBS Great Performances. His play Lend Me a Tenor won two Tony Awards, an Outer Critics Circle Award, and was nominated for England's prestigious Olivier Comedy of the Year Award. On Broadway, Ludwig’s Moon Over Buffalo starred Carol Burnett, then Lynn Redgrave and Robert Goulet, and went on to the West End in London. His adaptation ofBen Hecht and Charles MacArthur’s Twentieth Century ran on Broadway with Alec Baldwin and Anne Heche in 2004. And his play Shakespeare in Hollywood was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and won the Helen Hayes Award for Best New Play of the Year. His latest work includes the completion of a play by Thornton Wilder, at the request of Wilder’s estate; and an adaptation of The Three Musketeers, which was commissioned by England’s Bristol Old Vic. Ludwig’s work has been translated into 16 languages and performed in over 30 countries around the world.Rob Berman (Music Supervisor, Vocal and Dance Arrangements) has extensive Broadway credits, including the revival of Wonderful Townand The Pajama Game starring Henry Connick Jr. He is currently the music director for Encores! in New York. He music directed a new Stephen Sondheim review, Opening Doors, at Lincoln Center and also won a Helen Hayes Award for his music direction of the Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration’s production of Sunday in the Park with George.Randy Skinner (Choreographer) is an award-winning director and choreographer whose work has encompassed Broadway and regional productions. Credits include 42nd Street (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics nominations), Ain’t Broadway Grand (Tony, Outer Critics nominations), State Fair (Outer Critics nomination), among others.