Fosse by Sam Wasson

042214

Lib ebook

This book opens with Fosses` wake. Then moves on to the early Vaudville/burlesque days.

Chicago worlds fair Sally Rand The Fan Dance

3% And the dancing in the Navy in the late 40's.

4% Rogers and Hammersteins Oklohoma was the first time music and action on stage were fully coordinated. "Seems obvious today...but by 1943 it happened only piecemeal.  A little in Showboat. A little more in Pal Joey." But in shows like Oklahoma and Carousel the music and the story were integrated.

In the early days he hung out with Buddy Hackett and Carl Reiner

5% Fossie marries Niles july 1947

6% Joan Mckracken convinces him to become a choreographer.

9% Fosses' then wife now Joan Mckuracken (Mary Anne Niles was history) gets him his first shot at choreographing a big broadway production-The Pajama Game.

The Steam-Heat number in the Pajama Game was all Fosse. It was a formal introduction to the future of Broadway dance.

10% Then came the movie My Sister Elieen and Fosse Choreographed and starred in  a number with Tommy Rall called the Alley Dance. Two guys figbting it out with dance? Nothing funnier than that. I cant wat h this without laughing it's just so ridiculous.

Then in March 1955, the Pajama Game takes the Tony for best musical and for best choreograghed dance with Steam Heat. Fosse was on his way.

The on to Damn Yankees where he meets and dances with Gwen Verdon for the first time.

The bowler hat was all about  covering his bald spot.

11% After the gorilla number was cut from Damn Yankees, "who's Got The Pain was substituted. This is probably the quickly put together inanane pie e ever foisted on an unsuspecting public. Its so horrible it's literally laughable. Like most broadway lyrics, no thought at all went into the composition but this one even goes lower with bird caws and such. Horrible.

Shortly after that the song A Little Brains A Little Talent was added.

12% Then in September 1957,  "a new benchmark." Jerome Robbins West Side Story changes Broadway once again.

15% With successes under his belt like "The Redhead" Fosse newly married to Gwen Verdon, tries to kick his drug habit. Seconal he gives up cold turkey and has a seizure from withdrawals.  But instead he increases his amphetamine usage with the typical law of diminishing returns.

16% October 15 1961, I was 6mos old, How to Succeed in Business opens to rave reviews.

He says Fosse can be somewhat Dicktatorial at time prancing around like a leotard clad tyrant. I cant help picturing Dom Delouise in history of the world doing the French mistake. "Wrong! Watch me faggots" I know the whole stereotype of the fairy dancer is in reality the opposite as you really have to be in shape to do it well. But its just so stupid! Dont get me wrong I love Fosse and I am enjoying reading about him but I really dont think I'll ever get it. But im trying to.

20%  Big Spender is Fosse, from his show called Sweet Charity. Did not know that

21% Also in this show If My Friends Could See Me Now.

23% Wow he bombed with his directorial debut for the movie version of Sweet Charity.

Inspite of his flop, Fosse convinces Marty Wolfe at Allied Artists to let him direct Cabaret. And the rest is as they say, history.

25% Fosse was quite the man of affairs. Love affairs that is. When the cinematogrpher asked one of the producers on Cabaret is he thougbt Bobby (Fosse) was gay. He replied if he is he's sure hiding it well. This as they wat hed him fall in love again with a woman that was not his wif Gwen Verdon. Horndog!