On a chilly Wednesday evening in February, I ventured out of the warmth of my room to the Oxford Playhouse for the opening night of An American in Paris. I must admit, it had been a long day working on my dissertation, and all I really wanted to do was go to sleep. I was slightly anxious that two hours in a warm, darkened room would send me right off, but as soon as the live band struck up, I was wide awake.