Thelma Oliver

Like the rest of you, I've spent this week obsessing over 'Fosse Verdon' on FX and especially Gwen Verdon, played brilliantly on the series by Michelle Williams, in a performance that makes you want to reinvestigate what made Gwen so great. Sweet Charity is the perfect place to start. Gwen became a star and won her first Tony in a featured role in Can Can and she gained worldwide acclaim (and number 2 in a total of four Tonys) as Lola in Damn Yankees on stage and screen and of course there were many other shows and movies and TV appearances, but Sweet Charity was the show Bob Fosse (and Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields and Neil Simon) created just for her. She may have lost the Tony to Angela Lansbury in Mame, but Gwen got that iconic poster and all those songs.

The legendary song and dance man, Tony Award-winning triple-threat Ben Vereen will be performing his solo cabaret act Steppin' Out with Ben Vereen at Catalina Jazz Club on December 18 and 19. In our talk, he comments about the show and shares memories from many of the shows he's done during his illustrious career.

Paradise Theatre presents SWEET CHARITY through March 18, 2012. Book by Neil Simon; Music by Cy Coleman; Lyrics by Dorothy Fields. Based on an original screenplay by Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli and Ennio Plaiano. Produced for the Broadway Stage by Fryer, Carr and Harris. Conceived, Staged and Choreographed by Bob Fosse. Directed by JEFF RICHARDS. Musical Direction by VICKI KNICKERBOCKER. Choreography by VICKI RICHARDS.

Paradise Theatre presents SWEET CHARITY March 2-18, 2012. Book by Neil Simon; Music by Cy Coleman; Lyrics by Dorothy Fields. Based on an original screenplay by Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli and Ennio Plaiano. Produced for the Broadway Stage by Fryer, Carr and Harris. Conceived, Staged and Choreographed by Bob Fosse. Directed by JEFF RICHARDS. Musical Direction by VICKI KNICKERBOCKER. Choreography by VICKI RICHARDS.

Paradise Theatre presents SWEET CHARITY March 2-18, 2012. Book by Neil Simon; Music by Cy Coleman; Lyrics by Dorothy Fields. Based on an original screenplay by Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli and Ennio Plaiano. Produced for the Broadway Stage by Fryer, Carr and Harris. Conceived, Staged and Choreographed by Bob Fosse. Directed by JEFF RICHARDS. Musical Direction by VICKI KNICKERBOCKER. Choreography by VICKI RICHARDS.