Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,
This post is the last one about Fosse/Verdon, and it's been a long time coming. Other events have distracted me. Fosse/Verdon has a number of Emmy nominations, but it's up against stiff competition. The Emmy Awards will televised on Fox on Sept. 22nd.
When Fosse choreographed All That Jazz for Gwen Verdon and Chita Rivera, he had to make concessions to the decreases in Verdon's abilities and stamina. It was her final starring role on Broadway.
After Fosse's death, Verdon worked with Ann Reinking (they had become close friends) to keep the Fosse legacy alive. In 1996, Reinking created the choreography––in the Fosse style––for a revival of Chicago, in which she played Roxie Hart. As of 2017, Chicago held the record for the longest running Broadway musical.
In 1998, Reinking participated in bringing the revue Fosse to the stage to showcase his work.
Verdon supported these successful efforts, and also helped to create the Verdon Fosse Legacy to teach dance, raise money for charity, and encourage recreations of Fosse's choreography.
By no means did Verdon sit at home and mope. She dated. She starred in such movies as Cocoon. She appeared in TV shows.
Nicole Fosse went through some tough times when she emulated her dad's drinking and drug use, but she recovered, married, and had three children. When Nicole's husband died, Verdon moved in with her daughter and her grandchildren to support and assist them.
She wasn't there very long before she died of a heart attack. On October 18, 2000, the lights on Broadway dimmed in her honor.
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
Sing and dance us out, please, Bob and Gwen.
My motto as an editor: Authors are the authority on their work. I'm a full-service editor. For a reasonable fee, I'm your writing coach from the first suggested revision to the correction of the final typo.
Hi Janie! I honestly don't care too much about Verdon, but I do care about you and wonder how you're doing. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm here and hanging on.
DeleteI am glad that she didn't sit around and mope. She sounds like a strong woman, damaged yes, but not beaten down.
ReplyDeleteShe went after what she wanted.
DeleteHi Janie - never quite got into them ... but obviously the two of them brought a lot of joy to others through their music ... and it sounds like Verdon had some strength ... Also hope you're ok - take care - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI'm fine, thanks, Hilary.
DeleteNo matter how talented a person is, it is their character that matters the most to me. I would have liked to have known Gwen Verdon, beautiful, smart, kind and able to overcome hard times. My kind of gal.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been great to know her.
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ReplyDelete(Previous comment was deleted because of typos. Can't have those, when writing to an editor! 😉)
ReplyDeleteI always thought Gwen Verdon had something special. Obviously, strength of character served her well. Thanks for highlighting her talents and showcasing the mini-series, Janie. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I probably wouldn't have noticed the typos.
DeleteI'm glad she didn't "sit home and mope" after her husband's death. That's not an easy thing for anyone to do.
ReplyDeleteThey'd already been separated for quite a while, but I imagine that losing him was still difficult.
DeleteNice series on the duo.
ReplyDeleteparsnip
Thank you, gud parsnip.
DeleteI think Verdon was a strong and admirable personality. Tough, like we all must be, in the end.
ReplyDeleteVery tough.
DeleteI have trouble watching him knowing how he treated her! She was a class act. If I were her, I don't know if I could have kept dancing with him after all his shenanigans.
ReplyDeleteHe treated all women badly. I guess she knew she could still get something out of the relationship.
DeleteI'm not sure who she is, but her story sounds inspiring. Good for her for trucking along instead of letting the set backs define her life.
ReplyDeleteShe was a big star in American musical theater.
DeleteI remember Cocoon. That movie freaked me out. Even so, I still watched the sequel. haha
ReplyDeleteCocoon was a bit odd. Pod people.
DeleteHow sad that she didn't get to enjoy her grandkids more. She must have had a lot of inner strength to keep going after all the hurts and pains.
ReplyDeleteCocoon was a great movie.
She went through a lot. I don't know how she did it.
DeleteThese dancers left such an imprint. Gives "foot imprint" another meaning.
ReplyDeleteYes, it does.
DeleteSounds like this series was a meaningful one for you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, especially on her life after his death.
ReplyDeleteThank you. It was meaningful to me. I was concerned that they were forgotten.
DeleteHi, Janie! I can certainly relate to being distracted by other events, but at least those events didn't include a hurricane. I'm glad that you missed the worst of it ~ at least that's what I gathered from your post anticipating the hurricane. My sisters and extended family in Nova Scotia were without power for four days ~ more of an inconvenience than a danger. I've enjoyed your series on Fosse/Verdun. Dance is something I don't know a lot about, and I always love learning about new things. I can't imagine having that kind of talent. It sounds like their daughter went through a lot as well ~ strong mother, strong daughter.
ReplyDeleteWe didn't get anything from the hurricane. It was a little breezier than usual for a couple of days. It barely rained. We never lost power. I love learning about new things, too.
DeleteI'd never heard of her. Thanks for enlightening me. Too bad she didn't live longer to enjoy her grandkids more.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure her daughter really could have used her help. Nicole Fosse went through a lot.
DeleteI really liked Fosse/Verdon. Well done show!
ReplyDeleteI was pleased that Michelle Williams won an Emmy for playing Gwen Verdon and used the opportunity to talk about equal pay for women.
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