This episode follows the life and career of Robert Fosse, from his 1927 birth, on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois, through his multi-faceted career as an outstanding Actor, Dancer, Choreographer, Screenwriter and Director.
The fifth of six children born to Sarah and Cyril Fosse, a traveling salesman for the Hershey's Corporation, his parents encourage Bob's aspirations of becoming the next Fred Astaire. While Bob studies tap dancing an ballet rather than participating in sports, his brothers are bullied at school because of Bob's activities.
But soon the child is stricken with Epilepsy, a fact which Bob manages to conceal throughout his schooling and much of his career, beginning with his 1945 enlistment in the U.S. Navy at age 18, when he is assigned to serve in the Navy's Entertainment Division at War's end.
In 1946, with his parents' blessing, Bob sets out to New York City with $200 in his pocket, renting a 35¢ per day room at a YMCA blocks away from Times Square, to audition on Broadway. Oh, and he has a life-long insatiable passion for beautiful dancing ladies, which is often reciprocated for the spirited agile performer.
Bob Fosse proves his talents dancing in the road tour of "Call Me Mister," along with the lovely Mary Ann Niles, whom he marries in 1949, as his family approves of Mary Ann, who dumps him when he becomes involved with the lovely Joan McCracken, whom he marries in 1952, before she dumps him when he becomes involved with the lovely Gwen Verdon, whom he marries in 1960, as everyone knows that Bob has an eye for the ladies, whom he continues to pursue.
But Hollywood does not take appropriate notice of Bob's agile dancing talents even with delivering his dynamic number in "Kiss Me Kate" (1953) or sharing the spotlight with the lovely Debbie Reynolds in Give a Girl a Break (1953), and so Bob returns to Broadway, and choreographing, realizing that his legacy would not become as "the next Fred Astaire."
Bob Fosse brings innovative techniques to his choreographing, with mechanical maneuvers, expecting 100% from those whom he directs, and revolutionizing the art of the Broadway Musical.
His string of Broadway productions continues with his excellent Jazz dance style performances in "The Pajama Game" (1954-56) and "Damn Yankees" (1955-57), and he would go on to star in and direct Musicals for decades to follow, occasionally appearing in film and on television.
Amid many high and low points which life has to offer, Bob Fosse earns many awards, as a Tony for "Pippin" and "Sweet Charity," an Academy Award for "Cabaret," and an Emmy for "Liza with a Z," becoming the first individual to receive all three awards in the same year (1973), as well as the only nominee to receive all three awards in the category of "Best Director."
Bob's marriages are with Mary Ann Niles (1949–51), Joan McCracken (1952–59), and Gwen Verdon (whom he marries in 1960). With Gwen, he welcomes daughter, Nicole.
Interview Guests for this episode consist of Marianne Fosse-Dimos (Sister), Gwen Verdon (Wife/Dancer/Actress), Ann Reinking (Director/Choreographer), Katherine or Kathryn Doby (Dancer), Liza Minnelli (Actress), Roy Scheider (Actor), Charles Grass (Dancer/Friend), Neil Simon (Playwright), Clive Barnes (Theatre Critic, NY Times), and Jack Kroll (Senior Editor, Newsweek), with Harry Smith (Host). (The Narrator sounds like Bob Brown, but the credits were obfuscated.)
Still Photographs include Bob Fosse (Self), Sarah Fosse (Mother), Cyril Fosse (Father), Brothers and Sisters, Mary Ann Niles (former Wife), Joan McCracken (former Wife), Nicole Fosse (Daughter), Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Debbie Reynolds, George Abbott, Jerome Robbins and others.
Archive film footage includes Bob Fosse and various unidentified dancers.
Some of Bob Fosse's Stage performances here include "Call Me Mister" (1940's), "Dance Me a Song" (1950), "The Pajama Game" (1954-56), and "Damn Yankees" (1955-57).
Film Clips include All That Jazz (1979), plus theatric rehearsals and stills from other films and productions.
The fifth of six children born to Sarah and Cyril Fosse, a traveling salesman for the Hershey's Corporation, his parents encourage Bob's aspirations of becoming the next Fred Astaire. While Bob studies tap dancing an ballet rather than participating in sports, his brothers are bullied at school because of Bob's activities.
But soon the child is stricken with Epilepsy, a fact which Bob manages to conceal throughout his schooling and much of his career, beginning with his 1945 enlistment in the U.S. Navy at age 18, when he is assigned to serve in the Navy's Entertainment Division at War's end.
In 1946, with his parents' blessing, Bob sets out to New York City with $200 in his pocket, renting a 35¢ per day room at a YMCA blocks away from Times Square, to audition on Broadway. Oh, and he has a life-long insatiable passion for beautiful dancing ladies, which is often reciprocated for the spirited agile performer.
Bob Fosse proves his talents dancing in the road tour of "Call Me Mister," along with the lovely Mary Ann Niles, whom he marries in 1949, as his family approves of Mary Ann, who dumps him when he becomes involved with the lovely Joan McCracken, whom he marries in 1952, before she dumps him when he becomes involved with the lovely Gwen Verdon, whom he marries in 1960, as everyone knows that Bob has an eye for the ladies, whom he continues to pursue.
But Hollywood does not take appropriate notice of Bob's agile dancing talents even with delivering his dynamic number in "Kiss Me Kate" (1953) or sharing the spotlight with the lovely Debbie Reynolds in Give a Girl a Break (1953), and so Bob returns to Broadway, and choreographing, realizing that his legacy would not become as "the next Fred Astaire."
Bob Fosse brings innovative techniques to his choreographing, with mechanical maneuvers, expecting 100% from those whom he directs, and revolutionizing the art of the Broadway Musical.
His string of Broadway productions continues with his excellent Jazz dance style performances in "The Pajama Game" (1954-56) and "Damn Yankees" (1955-57), and he would go on to star in and direct Musicals for decades to follow, occasionally appearing in film and on television.
Amid many high and low points which life has to offer, Bob Fosse earns many awards, as a Tony for "Pippin" and "Sweet Charity," an Academy Award for "Cabaret," and an Emmy for "Liza with a Z," becoming the first individual to receive all three awards in the same year (1973), as well as the only nominee to receive all three awards in the category of "Best Director."
Bob's marriages are with Mary Ann Niles (1949–51), Joan McCracken (1952–59), and Gwen Verdon (whom he marries in 1960). With Gwen, he welcomes daughter, Nicole.
Interview Guests for this episode consist of Marianne Fosse-Dimos (Sister), Gwen Verdon (Wife/Dancer/Actress), Ann Reinking (Director/Choreographer), Katherine or Kathryn Doby (Dancer), Liza Minnelli (Actress), Roy Scheider (Actor), Charles Grass (Dancer/Friend), Neil Simon (Playwright), Clive Barnes (Theatre Critic, NY Times), and Jack Kroll (Senior Editor, Newsweek), with Harry Smith (Host). (The Narrator sounds like Bob Brown, but the credits were obfuscated.)
Still Photographs include Bob Fosse (Self), Sarah Fosse (Mother), Cyril Fosse (Father), Brothers and Sisters, Mary Ann Niles (former Wife), Joan McCracken (former Wife), Nicole Fosse (Daughter), Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Debbie Reynolds, George Abbott, Jerome Robbins and others.
Archive film footage includes Bob Fosse and various unidentified dancers.
Some of Bob Fosse's Stage performances here include "Call Me Mister" (1940's), "Dance Me a Song" (1950), "The Pajama Game" (1954-56), and "Damn Yankees" (1955-57).
Film Clips include All That Jazz (1979), plus theatric rehearsals and stills from other films and productions.
