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FosseOpening Date: Jan 14, 1999
Closing Date: Aug 25, 2001 Air date: Jan 23, 2002 Medium: TV and DVD Where to watch: DVD (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases) |
Stage Production Notes
Fosse was a revue-style three-act musical celebrating the “great, and lesser-known, musical numbers” choreographed by the legend himself.
Produced by Livent Inc., Fosse was first developed at York University in Toronto in 1996 with a month-long workshop under the direction of Chet Walker and Gwen Verdon.
Under the title Fosse, A Life in Song and Dance, the show received further workshops in Toronto in 1998.
The show played in Boston and Los Angeles before transferring to Broadway.
Following 22 previews, Fosse opened on Broadway on January 14, 1999.
The show received mixed reviews. Writing for the New York Times, Richard Canby described Fosse as “a rich, bewitching show,” while Ben Brantley stated it was a “hard-working but oddly affectless evening of dance.” Meanwhile, Steven Oxman writing for Variety claimed it was “a vibrant panoply of pelvic thrusts and extended limbs, all wrapped up in a slick package that's appropriately glitzy.”
Despite the reviews, the production was well-received by audiences and during awards season. The production was nominated for multiple awards, including 8 Tony Awards. It won the Tony for Best Musical, Best Orchestrations, and Best Lighting Design.
Fosse was initially created as an ensemble piece, but was adjusted as different star performers joined and left the production. Notable additions included Ben Vereen, Ann Reinking, and Bebe Neuwirth. Playbill reported that Vereen’s appearance in Fosse “brought some focus and personality” to the show.
A cast album was released on April 8, 1999.
The Broadway cast appeared on the Rosie O’Donnell Show in a performance that was aired on June 2 and August 5, 1999.
A national tour launched in September 1999, opening in Chicago. The show was slightly modified from its Broadway form, with four fewer ensemble members, and three fewer musical numbers —"Shoeless Joe From Hannibal, MO," "Nowadays" and "Hot Honey Rag” were all cut.
In September 2000, it was reported that members of the cast had approached Equity to help address the issue of the show’s grueling schedule. The 8-show-a-week schedule did not allow the dancers enough time for rest and recuperation after per
After 1100 regular performances, Fosse closed on Broadway on August 25, 2001.
Fosse was the last full-scale musical produced by Livent Inc., a bankrupt company that was sold to SFX in 1999.
Fosse was a revue-style three-act musical celebrating the “great, and lesser-known, musical numbers” choreographed by the legend himself.
Produced by Livent Inc., Fosse was first developed at York University in Toronto in 1996 with a month-long workshop under the direction of Chet Walker and Gwen Verdon.
Under the title Fosse, A Life in Song and Dance, the show received further workshops in Toronto in 1998.
The show played in Boston and Los Angeles before transferring to Broadway.
Following 22 previews, Fosse opened on Broadway on January 14, 1999.
The show received mixed reviews. Writing for the New York Times, Richard Canby described Fosse as “a rich, bewitching show,” while Ben Brantley stated it was a “hard-working but oddly affectless evening of dance.” Meanwhile, Steven Oxman writing for Variety claimed it was “a vibrant panoply of pelvic thrusts and extended limbs, all wrapped up in a slick package that's appropriately glitzy.”
Despite the reviews, the production was well-received by audiences and during awards season. The production was nominated for multiple awards, including 8 Tony Awards. It won the Tony for Best Musical, Best Orchestrations, and Best Lighting Design.
Fosse was initially created as an ensemble piece, but was adjusted as different star performers joined and left the production. Notable additions included Ben Vereen, Ann Reinking, and Bebe Neuwirth. Playbill reported that Vereen’s appearance in Fosse “brought some focus and personality” to the show.
A cast album was released on April 8, 1999.
The Broadway cast appeared on the Rosie O’Donnell Show in a performance that was aired on June 2 and August 5, 1999.
A national tour launched in September 1999, opening in Chicago. The show was slightly modified from its Broadway form, with four fewer ensemble members, and three fewer musical numbers —"Shoeless Joe From Hannibal, MO," "Nowadays" and "Hot Honey Rag” were all cut.
In September 2000, it was reported that members of the cast had approached Equity to help address the issue of the show’s grueling schedule. The 8-show-a-week schedule did not allow the dancers enough time for rest and recuperation after per
After 1100 regular performances, Fosse closed on Broadway on August 25, 2001.
Fosse was the last full-scale musical produced by Livent Inc., a bankrupt company that was sold to SFX in 1999.
Filmed Production Notes
Fosse was filmed by Dance in America between August 17-18, 2001, a week before its Broadway closing. The show was recorded over four performances with nine cameras.
The taped performances were slightly different from the regular performances. The recording featured Ben Vereen and Ann Reinking who had sporadically joined the cast throughout its run, and “Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo,” was re-inserted into the show.
Fosse aired on PBS’ Great Performances under the title “From Broadway: Fosse” on January 23, 2002.
Writing for the LA Times, Lewis Segal claimed that Vereen’s appearance changed the feel of Fosse, from a revue celebrating his work into “a nostalgia musical.”
Image Entertainment released Fosse on DVD in February, 2002. The DVD included a short interview segment with Ann Reinking and Ben Vereen.
In a review for Digitally Obsessed!, Debi Lee Mandel stated “The camerawork is almost as well-choreographed as the performance, making for a dynamic visual experience” and claimed that owning the DVD would inspire viewers to jump up and dance in their living rooms.
Fosse is widely available to view on DVD (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases).
Fosse was filmed by Dance in America between August 17-18, 2001, a week before its Broadway closing. The show was recorded over four performances with nine cameras.
The taped performances were slightly different from the regular performances. The recording featured Ben Vereen and Ann Reinking who had sporadically joined the cast throughout its run, and “Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo,” was re-inserted into the show.
Fosse aired on PBS’ Great Performances under the title “From Broadway: Fosse” on January 23, 2002.
Writing for the LA Times, Lewis Segal claimed that Vereen’s appearance changed the feel of Fosse, from a revue celebrating his work into “a nostalgia musical.”
Image Entertainment released Fosse on DVD in February, 2002. The DVD included a short interview segment with Ann Reinking and Ben Vereen.
In a review for Digitally Obsessed!, Debi Lee Mandel stated “The camerawork is almost as well-choreographed as the performance, making for a dynamic visual experience” and claimed that owning the DVD would inspire viewers to jump up and dance in their living rooms.
Fosse is widely available to view on DVD (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases).
Fosse PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Broadhurst Theatre
Producer: Livent (U.S.) Inc.
Music: Howard Dietz, Stephen Schwartz, Neil Diamond, Mort Dixon, Leon Barry, Fred Ebb, Johnny Mercer, Ray Bauduc, Louis Prima, Jerry Jeff Walker, Joseph Arrington, Jerry Ross, Arthur Schwartz, Dorothy Fields, Lew Brown, Buddy DeSylva, Ray Henderson, Dave Dreyer, Bob Crosby, Gil Rodin, Lalo Schifrin, Frederick K. Tobias, Cole Porter, Billy Rose, Cy Coleman, Irving Berlin, John Kander, Harry Ruby, Leo Robin, Richard A. Whiting, Stanley Lebowsky, Billy Higgins, Ted Snyder, Andy Razaf, Al Jolson, Richard Adler, Bob Haggart, Patrick S. Brady, Jule Styne, Bert Kalmar, Harry Warren, Frederick Loewe, W. Benton Overstreet, G. Harrell
Concept: Richard Maltby Jr., Chet Walker, Ann Reinking
Artistic Director: Gwen Verdon
Director: Richard Maltby, Jr., film: Matthew Diamond
Co-Director and Co-Choreographer: Ann Reinking
Original Choreography: Bob Fosse
Orchestrations: Ralph Burns and Douglas Besterman
Musical Supervisor and Arrangements: Gordon Lowry Harrell
Dance arrangements and incidental music:
Choreography: Bob Fosse, Ann Reinking
Scenic and Costume Design: Santo Loquasto
Lighting Design: Andrew Bridge
Sound Design: Jonathan Deans
Stage Manager: Mary Porter Hall, Lori Lundquist, Mary Harwell
Cast:
Ann Reinking, Ben Vereen, Eugene Fleming, Edwaard Liang, Dana Moore, Meg Gillentine, Julio Monge, Josh Rhodes, J.P. Christensen, Parker Esse, Deborah Leamy, Robin Lewis, Christopher Windom, Ken Alan, Mark Arvin, Brad Anderson, Ashley Bachner, Lynne Calamia, Susan LaMontagne, Dylis Croman, Byron Ealey, Josh Rhodes, Meg Gillentine, Anne Hawthorne, Scott Jovovich, Suzanne Harrer, James Kinney, Julio Monge, Sharon Moore, Jill Nicklaus, Rachelle Rak, Edwaard Liang, Eugene Fleming, Marc Calamia, Ethyl Will, The Palace/Fosse Orchestra
Theatre: Broadhurst Theatre
Producer: Livent (U.S.) Inc.
Music: Howard Dietz, Stephen Schwartz, Neil Diamond, Mort Dixon, Leon Barry, Fred Ebb, Johnny Mercer, Ray Bauduc, Louis Prima, Jerry Jeff Walker, Joseph Arrington, Jerry Ross, Arthur Schwartz, Dorothy Fields, Lew Brown, Buddy DeSylva, Ray Henderson, Dave Dreyer, Bob Crosby, Gil Rodin, Lalo Schifrin, Frederick K. Tobias, Cole Porter, Billy Rose, Cy Coleman, Irving Berlin, John Kander, Harry Ruby, Leo Robin, Richard A. Whiting, Stanley Lebowsky, Billy Higgins, Ted Snyder, Andy Razaf, Al Jolson, Richard Adler, Bob Haggart, Patrick S. Brady, Jule Styne, Bert Kalmar, Harry Warren, Frederick Loewe, W. Benton Overstreet, G. Harrell
Concept: Richard Maltby Jr., Chet Walker, Ann Reinking
Artistic Director: Gwen Verdon
Director: Richard Maltby, Jr., film: Matthew Diamond
Co-Director and Co-Choreographer: Ann Reinking
Original Choreography: Bob Fosse
Orchestrations: Ralph Burns and Douglas Besterman
Musical Supervisor and Arrangements: Gordon Lowry Harrell
Dance arrangements and incidental music:
Choreography: Bob Fosse, Ann Reinking
Scenic and Costume Design: Santo Loquasto
Lighting Design: Andrew Bridge
Sound Design: Jonathan Deans
Stage Manager: Mary Porter Hall, Lori Lundquist, Mary Harwell
Cast:
Ann Reinking, Ben Vereen, Eugene Fleming, Edwaard Liang, Dana Moore, Meg Gillentine, Julio Monge, Josh Rhodes, J.P. Christensen, Parker Esse, Deborah Leamy, Robin Lewis, Christopher Windom, Ken Alan, Mark Arvin, Brad Anderson, Ashley Bachner, Lynne Calamia, Susan LaMontagne, Dylis Croman, Byron Ealey, Josh Rhodes, Meg Gillentine, Anne Hawthorne, Scott Jovovich, Suzanne Harrer, James Kinney, Julio Monge, Sharon Moore, Jill Nicklaus, Rachelle Rak, Edwaard Liang, Eugene Fleming, Marc Calamia, Ethyl Will, The Palace/Fosse Orchestra
Sources
Books
Articles
Websites
- John Stewart, Broadway Musicals, 1943 - 2004, McFarland (2014)
Articles
- Ben Brantley, “An Album Of Fosse,” New York Times (Jan 15, 1999)
- Vincent Canby, “In a New Fosse Vehicle, A Headlong Joy Ride,” New York Times (Jan 24, 1999)
- Ray Ellicock, “More on the Bob Fosse Revue,” Playbill (Aug 10, 1996)
- Mira Friedlander, “Canada Press To Preview New Livent Musical Fosse, Feb. 24,” Playbill (Feb 20, 1998)
- Valerie Galdstone, “Turning Bits of Video Into Works of Art,” New York Times (Jan 20, 2002)
- Charles Isherwood, “Review: ‘Fosse’,” Variety (Jan 14, 1999)
- Kenneth Jones, “Tweaked Tour of Fosse, Now Previewing, Opens Sept. 22,” Playbill (Sept 15, 1999)
- Kenneth Jones, “Killer Dillers Reinking and Neuwirth Together Again, But in Fosse, April 2-29,” Playbill (April 2, 2001)
- Kenneth Jones, “Ben Vereen Returns to 'Glory' of Bway's Fosse May 28 for Summer Stint,” Playbill (May 28, 2001)
- Kenneth Jones, “From Broadway: Fosse" Airs on PBS' "Dance in America" Series, Jan. 23,” Playbill (Dec 13, 2001)
- Debi Lee Mandel, “Image Entertainment Presents Fosse,” Digitally Obsessed! (Feb 26, 2002)
- Murdoch McBride, “Equity Members Complain About Rigors of New Fosse Schedule,” Playbill (Sept 1, 2000)
- Steven Oxman, “Review: ‘Fosse’,” Variety (June 19, 2000)
- Lewis Segal, “Vereen Dominates a Sentimentalized ‘Fosse’,” LA Times (Jan 23, 2002)
- Robert Simonson, “Fosse Gives Repeat Performance on 'Rosie,' Aug. 5,” Playbill (Aug 4, 1999)
- “New Video Releases,” New York Times (Feb 15, 2002)
Websites
- Playbill, “Fosse,” Accessed via: http://www.playbill.com/production/fosse-broadhurst-theatre-vault-0000001999
Written by Luisa Lyons (May, 2017)