Anna Rose O’Sullivan will make her musical theatre debut in Christopher Wheeldon’s production of An American in Paris at Grand Théâtre de Genève. She will take on the lead singing and dancing role of Lise Dassin this December.
Musical theatre isn’t new to her – O’Sullivan appeared in London’s West End as a child in the original cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and was the youngest person in the cast. She also played Cosette in Les Misérables at London’s Queen’s Theatre [now the Sondheim Theatre] before going to The Royal Ballet School.
In 2022, Gramilano asked her if she still sang. “I do. Though now it’s more for the shower. But in lockdown, I did enjoy revisiting that a little and try a bit of acting. I’m open to all things within the arts as I think they can all help your performance. And never say never – one day, maybe the right thing could come along when I’m older. I love going to the theatre. I love musicals. I love films. Anything with performing in it and I’m there.”
And so, just three years later, she will return as an adult to the musical theatre as the co-lead in Wheeldon’s Tony-award-winning 2014 production of An American in Paris, but it’s quite a season for O’Sullivan at The Royal Opera too, with debuts as Tita in Like Water for Chocolate, Lise in La Fille mal gardée, and the title role in Giselle.
“It’s a golden opportunity I simply couldn’t resist,” said O’Sullivan, “And a chance to explore new dimensions of myself as an artist. I look forward to broadening my craft through this exciting experience.”
An American in Paris
Grand Théâtre de Genève
13th – 31st December 2025
Further details – An American in Paris – Grand Théâtre de Genève
Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Carla Fracci.
Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.
He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.