An American in Paris: The Musical

Following the liberation, US Army Lieutenant Jerry Mulligan chooses to remain in Paris to pursue painting rather than catch his train home. Adam Hochberg, a fellow veteran with a permanent limp, helps him find a place to live and get started in the city. The two men form a fast friendship as they look toward a brighter future in postwar Paris.

Adam brings Jerry to the Paris ballet auditions where Milo Davenport, a wealthy philanthropist, is scouting potential stars. The mysterious Lise Dassin appears late but delivers a stunning audition that captures everyone's attention. Milo is immediately intrigued and the possibility of funding her season grows.

Impressed by Lise, Milo agrees to fund her season and commissions a score by Adam and a design by Jerry for a new ballet. He also pushes for a collaboration that would spotlight Lise as the centerpiece of the production. The project promises a fusion of French elegance and American energy.

Jerry interrupts Lise at her perfume counter to arrange a rendezvous by the Seine, where they share a moment of quiet vulnerability. They agree to meet daily, and Jerry playfully renames her 'Liza' so they can pretend they are two carefree lovers by the river. Their bond deepens as they both reveal war-haunted pasts.

Back at the Baurel home, Henri writes a letter proposing to Lise, while Lise herself pens a note to her late mother about whether to marry Henri or follow her heart. The family keeps Lise's status hidden from the ballet board to avoid charges of nepotism and ensure her future remains secure.

The trio—Adam, Jerry, and Henri—un knowingly sing about the same woman in a harmonized chorus, highlighting the tangled mix of friendship, duty, and desire. The performance underscores how love can complicate even the strongest bonds in postwar Paris. Each man cherishes Lise in his own way, though she remains unaware of their shared affection.

Lise is announced as the prima ballerina of the Théâtre du Châtelet, elevating the stakes of duty and expectations. Henri contemplates his own path abroad for an American tour, while Lise wrestles with the compromises her status imposes. She also carries a personal letter to her mother that hints at doubts about her forthcoming life with Henri.

Jerry accompanies Milo to a party that turns into a guided tour of Paris's postwar art world, where gallery representatives discover his talent. Milo's mentorship grows into a romantic attachment, complicating Jerry's loyalties between Lise and his artistic ambitions. The experience accelerates Jerry's immersion in a vibrant, rebuild-everything Paris.

At a costume party, Jerry and Lise glimpse each other across the room; when Lise appears with Henri, Jerry's jealousy erupts and he tears off their party masks to reveal his true feelings. He kisses Lise in front of everyone, forcing a painful confrontation about whether love can survive their tangled obligations.

In parallel conversations, Milo and Henri ask Jerry and Lise if they have anything to confess, while they all confront the tension between personal happiness and public expectations. Jerry ends things with Milo, even as Lise admits her deep feelings for him. The group faces an emotional crossroads about love, fidelity, and duty.

In a Montparnasse nightclub, Henri delivers a show-stopping performance titled Stairway to Paradise while Adam urges him to remember his dream. Before the number ends, Henri reveals that Lise is his protegée and notes she owes them her safety from the occupation era. The revelation reframes all their relationships and tests their courage to choose truth over appearances.

Adam revises the ballet score to celebrate life, and Lise delivers a luminous, dreamlike performance that imagines Jerry as her partner. The crowd roars as she transforms the stage into a celebration of love and resilience, cementing her status as a true star. The dreamlike pas de deux culminates in a triumphant finale titled An American in Paris.

After the curtain, Lise confesses that she loves Jerry and decides to follow her heart. Adam realizes his love is for the light Lise brings into the world and resolves to capture her essence in his music. The three men vow to remember Lise and the profound impact she has had on their lives.

Jerry and Lise share one final dance by the Seine and walk into the Paris night, choosing love over duty as the city glows around them. The story closes with the memory of Lise living on in the art and hearts of those who knew her. Paris remains the stage where their lives were forever changed.