Wow, how thrilling. I can't imagine what it must have felt like to go see a brand new musical, directed by Bob Fosse, with a score by Kander & Ebb, and starring Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera and Jerry Orbach. Chita rocks the choreography for "When Velma Takes the Stand" out of the world. It's something else.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
This is incredible!!!! Fosse was such a genius. This is definitely out of town, not only because of the different finale, but the dialogue in the Go To Hell Kitty is different than what was eventually performed. I love watching footage like this. In case anyone's wondering, there is extensive footage of OBC A Chorus Line at the Public available as well. The quality is awful (you can't see their faces) but it's worth it to watch Kelly Bishop's pre-At the Ballet scene.
"Sing the words, Patti!!!!" Stephen Sondheim to Patti LuPone.
This footage was shot by either John Kander or Fred Ebb (I forgot which) during the show's pre-Broadway tryout. I believe it was shot in Boston and its of a dress rehearsal. The audience reaction you hear is actually the crew, creative team, etc.
This footage is generally referred to as 'home movies' of original CHICAGO.
It DEFINATELY was Fred Ebb! It just makes sense that he would take it. Do you think he made the audio recording of the Philly tryout? The reaction the person recording it has of the whole "We are shining examples of what a wonderful counry this is" bit sounds like him and since Fosse changed a lot of his dialouge in rehearsals and out of town, it would be expected that he'd have that reaction. And I can confirm that ROXIE neon sign was definately at Studio 54.
Thank you ryanglitter for putting it up. I never thought I'd ever see this. I knew footage existed and I had a funny feeling (Confirmed by BrodyFosse) that Kander and/or Ebb had something to do with the footage but I never expected to see it. I'm still shocked.
This footage has been circulating the bootleg circuit for decades, so it isn't 'new' just discovered footage. Clips from it are also included on the 2-disc Special Edition DVD of CHICAGO and used in numerous documentaries on Bob Fosse (A&E Biography, E! True Hollywood Story, etc.).
I've had it since the late 1980's.
I even have out-of-town footage of the pre-Broadway MACK & MABEL, for chrissakes!
Brody--just because you have everything doesn't mean it's not new and exciting to others.
And where's that "broadcast-quality" clip of the title song from Applause you once said you'd post? Not the one from the Tony Awards--the one from the broadcast.
Brody, stop being a F*CKface and get over yourself. And post those clips from MACK & MABEL on youtube along the way.
I can't get enough of Chita's dancing. I also think there is something thrilling about seeing real Fosse dancers in the ensemble, it's like nothing I've seen before (well, maybe in ALL THAT JAZZ, CABARET, and LIZA WITH A Z, but not in a theater context).
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"