Fascinating Facts I Didn't Know About My Favorite Shows..

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 9:27pm

I got this book from the library about choreographers from the Golden Age. And I got some interesting facts from the Fosse section that I didn't know.

During the out of town try out of SWEET CHARITY in Philadelphia. The show got RAVE reviews, the morning after the reviews came out - the box office opened at ten to pushing and shoving crowds trying to get tickets. And there was a riot, and it had to be quelled by the police. And scalpers were selling tickets for $200 dollars (I would imagine this was A LOT for the 60's)

I just found that little story FASCINATING.

Before CHICAGO really started happening. Fosse had his first heart attack, which we all know. And the producers secretly talked to Jerome Robbins about taking over if Fosse couldn't return. (I feel like I knew this, but still fascinating.) And then Fosse got back, the show was on the road in Philadelphia. And it got DEVASTATING reviews. So Fosse did a radical revision of the show, and it opened on Broadway to raves from the some critics (but it was still wasn't fully appreciated.) Oh and Fosse's original concept for CHICAGO was going to be the whole cast in masks, he pictured them white faces, marked with red dots, and black around the lips. But obviously this didn't stay.

I found it so interesting that it got terrible reviews out of town, because now the show is considered one of the best of all time. Also interesting what he wanted to do with the faces.

I'm sure some of you know about all this, but I just felt like sharing these facts I recently found out.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 11/6/05 at 1:18am

That's really interesting! So I'm gonna bump this on up!

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 11/6/05 at 1:26am

Well, that is quite interesting.

What is the name of this book? Whos it the author? MLA bitch - gimme the details!

[Sant]

Posted: 11/6/05 at 7:08am

CHICAGO seemed to be a bit ahead of its time in the 1970s but now after all those O.J.Simpson trials and such it is more "up-to-date" and poignant.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/6/05 at 9:16am

BROADWAY THE GOLDEN AGE (Jerome Robbins and the Great Choreographers-Directors 1940 to the Present) - by Robert Emmet Long.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 3:31pm

I still love the fact that Gwen Verdon caused a riot!

[jimmirae]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 3:37pm

A LOT of the Fosse/Chicago stuff is actually covered in the film "All that Jazz" - you just have to know who is who and what was going on. Look at the set model they show as well, it looks just like the original "Chicago" set with the doors that opened & the 2 staircases on either side.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 3:38pm

I remember hearing stories from old-timers about "South Pacific" when the show first opened.

The line supposedly went all the way around the block and met itself in a complete circle. The police had to come in and close off the entire block to maintain order.

I've heard this from more than one eye-witness source. A pretty amazing time to be going to the theatre.

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/12/05 at 3:44pm

I know, Jimm.

I always figured the show done in ALL THAT JAZZ most likely represented CHICAGO. And ofcourse Leland Palmer was basically playing Gwen Verdon, and Ann Reinking was obviously playing herself. And I love how Ann Reinking had to auditon her butt off to play HERSELF - I am so glad she got to. And in the movie they show how the musical was being created for his wife, and CHICAGO was obviously created for the one and only Gwen Verdon. CHICAGO was all for Gwen.

And in the book I read that when Fosse was in the hospital he had Ann and Gwen by his side, and the doctors were confused on who to talk to about his condition. And they show this in ATJ.