A Life in Music

About the show

Gene Kelly: A Life in Music is a Symphonic Cinema Tribute to the life and work of legendary dancer, director and choreographer Gene Kelly. Conceived and written by Kelly’s wife and biographer, Patricia Ward Kelly, the show combines film clips of Gene’s spectacular dancing—played on a big screen—with the live music of a magnificent orchestra. The orchestra plays while Gene performs his numbers from both well-known MGM musicals and less-known pieces, including rarely seen television specials. This very personal journey into the unique landscape of music and dance is capped by the presence of Mrs. Kelly herself, who from the stage shares behind-the-scenes stories about the making of these enduring works.

While most people think of dance when they think of Gene Kelly, music is central to his work, particularly the American popular song of his youth. It influenced him, inspired him, and, in many ways, defined him. Kelly worked closely with composers, arrangers, and musicians to achieve the results he wanted on film, and held these artists in the highest regard, knowing it was they who made his creations possible. This evening highlights and celebrates the work of these talented individuals, many of whom Kelly described as the unsung heroes of the movie musicals.