The Paris production bowed on March 12, 2015. Directed by Robert Carsen, who also designed the lighting, the production played 15 performances through March 26. It will return Nov. 27 for a more substantial run through Jan. 17, 2016. The show is performed entirely in English with French surtitles.
A representative for the production told Playbill.com that the Broadway cast will be a combination of new and existing cast members from the Châtelet staging.
Like "An American in Paris," "Singin' in the Rain" originated as a 1950s film produced by the legendary Arthur Freed unit at MGM studios. Betty Comden and Adolph Green adapted their "Singin' in the Rain" film script to the stage. Directed and choreographed by Twyla Tharp, the 1985 Broadway production ran 367 performances. Singin' in the Rain has songs by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed.
Carsen will recreate his Paris staging on Broadway, working alongside choreographer Stephen Mear (Mary Poppins) and Tony Award-winning costume designer Anthony Powell (Sunset Boulevard).
Jean-Luc Choplin, artistic director of Théâtre du Châtelet, released a statement saying, "We are pleased and honored to work with our partner, Weinstein Live Entertainment. Harvey Weinstein is the ideal producer to be our partner in sharing this quality worldwide. Our relationship with Weinstein Live Entertainment adds luster to the reputation of Paris as a leader for such quality work."
Harvey Weinstein, chairman of Weinstein Live Entertainment, said, "Théâtre du Châtelet’s productions have long been internationally recognized for their high quality and progressive interpretations. This production is simply spectacular—it at last does justice to one of America’s greatest films. Robert Carsen has made a remarkable footprint on American musical theater for international audiences. I’m delighted to be working with Jean-Luc Choplin and Robert Carsen in bringing this phenomenal production to Broadway and the world."
Théâtre du Châtelet has made itself a home to many American musicals in the past few years. The theatre has produced French versions of Into the Woods, My Fair Lady, Candide, Show Boat and Passion, to name a few.
For more information, visit chatelet-theatre.com.
*
(Stéphane Ly-Cuong is a Paris-based freelance writer and director; [email protected].)
