Musical Theatre West, the Carpenter Performing Arts Center and The Art Theatre will present three unique perspectives of the dancer, choreographer, actor, singer, film director, the American legend, Gene Kelly over the next month.
A three-week run of the Broadway stage spectacle will take place at Musical Theatre West, a screening of “An American in Paris” will be shown at The Art Theatre and a Q&A session with widow, biographer and celebrated film historian Patricia Ward Kelly will be held at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center.
Eugene Curran “Gene” Kelly pushed the Hollywood musical into an entirely new realm. From his iconic dancing duet with Jerry the Mouse in Anchors Aweigh in 1945 to the breathtaking ballet of An American in Paris in 1951 and, just a year later, his signature swing around the lamppost in Singin’ in the Rain, Kelly created a signature style now considered timeless.
His work and passion for the art did not go unrecognized. Kelly received an Honorary Academy Award for his career achievements, was knighted Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, earned the Cecil B. DeMille Award and Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Kennedy Center Honors, the American Film Institute (AFI) and the Screen Actors Guild, while in 1999 AFI ranked Kelly 15th on its list of “Greatest Male Stars of All Time.”
In honor of the Hollywood legend, Musical Theatre West presents the Broadway stage production of Singin’ in the Rain at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center. The stage version, according to the theatre, will be “faithfully and lovingly adapted” by Broadway legends Betty Comden and Adolph Green with songs by Nacio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed.
Complete with an onstage rainstorm, guests are invited to reminisce as each unforgettable scene from Make ‘Em Laugh and Good Mornin’ to the iconic Singin’ in the Rain is brought to life. You can catch the musical on July 11 (limited seats are still available) or on a different date through July 26.
On Monday, July 13 at 7:00PM, Musical Theatre West, the Art Theater and the Carpenter Performing Arts Center will partner to present a screening of the classic movie musical An American in Paris with a special Q&A session with internationally recognized biographer and film historian Patricia Ward Kelly to kick off the evening.
Enthusiasts will have a second chance to spend more time with biographer Kelly at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center on Sunday, November 22 during Gene Kelly: The Legacy with Patricia Ward Kelly. An intimate afternoon will offer a glimpse into her late husband’s life in a performance that includes rare and familiar film clips, previously unreleased audio recordings, personal memorabilia and insights from her hours of interviews and conversations with her late spouse.
For more information and to purchase tickets for any of these events, please see the schedule of events below:
Art Theatre Screening of An American in Paris with Special Introduction and Q&A with Patricia Ward Kelly
Monday, July 13, 7:00PM
Art Theatre
2025 East 4th Street, Long Beach, CA 90814
562.438.5435
Tickets available at the Art Theatre or online.
Tickets: $11
Musical Theatre West Presents the Broadway Smash Musical Singin’ in the Rain
July 10-26
Carpenter Performing Arts Center
6200 East Atherton Street, Long Beach, CA 90815
Tickets available at www.musical.org or by calling 562.856.1999, ext. 4
Tickets start at $20
Carpenter Performing Arts Center presents Gene Kelly: The Legacy with Patricia Ward Kelly
Sunday, November 22, 2:00PM
Carpenter Performing Arts Center
6200 East Atherton Street, Long Beach, CA 90815
Tickets available at www.carpenterarts.org
Tickets are $33 through July 20, $38 afterward