Where and When

Sunday in the Park with George takes place on a series of Sundays from 1884 to 1886 in a park on an island in the Seine just outside Paris, France.

• The Eiffel Tower.  During the song "Beautiful" in the show Sunday in the Park with George the Old Woman complains that all the trees are being cut down for "some foolish tower."  This tower would later become the Eiffel Tower, she disapproves of the change, George finds it beautiful.  So beautiful in fact, he made a painting of the finished product, something I just discovered today.
• History of the Eiffel Tower as well as another History of the Eiffel Tower
• Wikipedia page

• The art world of the times is important to know.  Paris was the artistic hub of the world, if you wanted to be seen as an artist, you were there.  George Seurat was very much apart of this world.  He did paint in the impressionist style until he decided to branch out on his own and invented the technique of pointillism.
• http://www.artandarchitecture.org.uk/quiz/127.html

• The Folies Bergere is mentioned several times in the script, it is important to know about it.  Dot, George's model dreams of being a Follies girl, who were highly liberated woman, often viewed naked on stage with marvelous headpieces.  Dot even says at one point, "the less I wear, the more comfortable I feel."  This was the best form of high entertainment in Paris and was a  big tourist spot, maybe even attracting the Americans from the script there.
• A Brief History of the Folies Bergere
• Encyclopedia Britannica Online

• The Statue of Liberty.  A great gift from the people of France to the United States.  The statue was entirely funded and crafted in France, work beginning as far back as 1879, finally being erected in the United States in 1886.  Important because of the effect it had on the French population.  It was a big expense, showcasing just how rich France was at the time. The bust was even showcased in the Paris World's Fair of 1878.  
• History of the Statue of Liberty
• Wikipedia Page

• The French are famous for their pastries.  One of the characters in the show is a Baker.  It would be beneficial to know what it is exactly he makes as people eat them on stage. While no clear history on the french pastry exists, here are some interesting topics of study.
• The Art of the French Pastry
• The tasty history of Parisian patisseries
• Wikipedia page which links you to different well known French desserts