Just after the liberation of France, US Army Lieutenant Jerry Mulligan is struck by a mysterious girl after seeing her on the maze-like streets of Paris ("Concerto in F").

Ready to rebuild his life after the war, he deliberately misses his train home and decides to stay in Paris to nurture his passion for painting.

He makes his way to a cafe/lodging house, where he meets Adam Hochberg, a fellow veteran and pianist, whose war injuries have left him with a permanent limp.

Henri Baurel, the son of wealthy French industrialists, enters to rehearse the nightclub act he is putting together with Adam.

Henri reveals his plans to run his family's American branch while becoming a nightclub star in secret, fearing his parents' disapproval of his dreams of being an entertainer.

Jerry bumps into headstrong American philanthropist, Milo Davenport, who, struck by his talent and good looks, invites him to a party to introduce him to gallery owners.

Henri's mother, Madame Baurel, arrives with Ballet Director Maestro Z, and introduces Milo to him as a potential donor.

As the audition continues, the girl dances beautifully, impressing the Ballet Director, Milo and both Jerry and Adam ("Second Prelude").

Immediately infatuated with Lise, Adam sits down, thrilled with the prospect of writing a ballet that joins French and American culture.

Lise is reserved, and but Jerry will not be dissuaded as he tries to get her to agree to meet with him at the Seine that evening, causing a ruckus in the store until he is thrown out ("I've Got Beginners' Luck").

Madame Baurel enters and congratulates Lise she is to be the prima ballerina of the Théâtre du Châtelet Ballet.

It is revealed Lise lives with the Baurel family, which they have not disclosed to the Ballet in order to avoid charges of nepotism.

Jerry is sketching a bench at the banks of the Seine when Lise arrives for their meeting, telling him she cannot accept his friendship.

She implies his reluctance to propose is perhaps due to a romantic interest in men, which Henri denies, and warns him the family, vulnerable to accusations of collaboration with the Nazis, must be concerned with appearances.

Lise tells him should he ever want a companion in America, she will accompany him gladly, and he takes this as an agreement to the proposal he has not yet made, mistaking her obvious glow of happiness for excitement about the ballet rather than for love of Jerry.

Back at the cafe, all three men rejoice over their love for Lise, eventually joining in a trio without realizing they are all singing about the same woman ("S'Wonderful").

Initially annoyed, Jerry relents after Milo gives him constructive criticism on his art and takes him to meet various gallery representatives, and they begin a casual relationship.

Jerry is brought as Milo's plus one, and, in an attempt to cover up his secret nightclub act, Henri denies knowing them, arousing his parents' suspicions.

After seeing Lise is not among the dancers, he laughs in relief, causing a stir among the guests which eventually turns into a wild dance number ("Fidgety Feet").

The Baurels announce Lise and Henri's engagement, crushing both Adam and Jerry, who lashes out at Milo and storms into the garden.

Henri threw himself into the Resistance, all of them risking their lives for her, and have kept this secret due to the disruption this would cause their social status in the fragile post-war world.

Henri's act begins and he is stricken with nerves, but Adam encourages him to remember his dream, and he fantasizes of performing an elegant number in Radio City Music Hall ("Stairway to Paradise").

On opening night at the Ballet, Jerry shifts around nervously outside Lise's dressing room, a scroll in his hand.

The Ballet begins, and as it progresses, Lise imagines her partner has become Jerry, and they perform a magnificent pas de deux.

She gives Adam a rose out of her bouquet, a gesture usually done by an etoile to her pas de deux partner, and kisses him good bye.

[3] The musical opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre on April 12, 2015, following an engagement at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.

Christopher Wheeldon directs and choreographs, with the cast led by Robert Fairchild, Leanne Cope, Veanne Cox, Jill Paice, Brandon Uranowitz and Max von Essen.

The creative team consisted of Bob Crowley (sets and costumes) and Natasha Katz (lighting) as well as Jon Weston (sound) and 59 Productions (projections).

[5] The US national tour opened in Boston, Massachusetts in October 2016, starring Garen Scribner and Sara Esty.

[14] Following its COVID-19 pandemic closing in 2020, the second US national tour opened at the Palace Theater (Waterbury, CT) on January 28, 2022 starring Branson Bice and Camila Rodrigues.