I find quite fascinating that some shows tried to incorporate vaudeville style and structure but couldn't go on entirely with it and had to change things along the way, Gypsy was originally planned with a similar idea, and I think Annie does something like it too.
Came here because of the algorithm. Staying for the analysis. I love this and how succinctly you're able to explain depth and nuance. Subscribed and can't wait for more!
"Mr. Cellophane" is also an homage to the 1930 German film THE BLUE ANGEL. (The look of the original production was very German expressionistic.) Compare Barney Martin's coat and its oversized collar with that of Emil Jannings' cabaret clown coat in THE BLUE ANGEL. In the film, Janning plays a professor who falls in love with and marries cabaret singer Lola Lola, Marlene Dietrich. She cuckolds him, humiliates him and leads him to madness.
Congrats! And I hope it is fine that I used it and credited the theatre. This clip is one of the top search results for "Unworthy of Your Love Assassins". Lauren E Smith posted it on her channel I guess. Finding an appropriate clip on RUclips was surprisingly difficult. I really liked your staging and sets; and of your course the performers were fantastic. Also, a lot of snooping had to be done to figure out what theatre company it was in order to credit it correctly.
CHICAGO opened in June 1975, twenty years before the O.J. Simpson trial. What was happening during the mid-1970s that, according to its creators, influenced the writing of CHICAGO? Watergate and the Sam Ervin Senate hearings. A lot of those involved with the Watergate break-in and its cover-up ended up on the talk-show circuit plugging their books for which they had received big advances.
It was in the mind of fossie since the 60s. They just waited for the writer of the original play to die (which she did in 1969) before they could get the rights, something like that
Chicago the Fosse Musical had its Broadway debut in 1975 not 1976. If it had been 76 it would have fared much better at the Tony Awards- instead of being pulverized by the Sensation that was “A Chorus Line”
I am embarrassed and you are correct! I had thought I did my research on that. I typically try to find documentaries where people's names are spoken, which I did for some of the other figures in this video, but I clearly missed Guinan's. I guess I'm the real sucker.
I think you're confusing vaudeville with burlesque. Certainly, in the original Fosse version, he drew on his and Verdon's experience in burlesque. The costumes wouldn't have been permitted in vaudeville. Also, I'm pretty sure Texas' last name is pronounced GUY-nan. ETA: It's Ziegfeld, not Ziegfried.
The original Fosse production was billed as "A Musical Vaudeville," not as "The Musical." A vaudeville is a show containing a series of variety acts. You're confusing CHICAGO with SUGAR BABIES, which billed itself as "The Burlesque Musical."
@@njatty No, I'm not. It may be called a musical Vaudeville, but the type of dance and the costumes are pure burlesque. Burlesque, which was considered "lower" than vaudeville, but was also, like Vaudeville and British music hall, a series of unconnected acts with different performers getting different lengths of time depending upon where they were on the bill. Fosse and Verdon were just barely too young for Vaudeville, but they both worked in Burlesque houses early in their careers.
I find quite fascinating that some shows tried to incorporate vaudeville style and structure but couldn't go on entirely with it and had to change things along the way, Gypsy was originally planned with a similar idea, and I think Annie does something like it too.
Gypsy had a lot more dance even on Roses Turn but then Robbins decided to give up and reduce it to the necessary minimum, to put the acting first.
Came here because of the algorithm. Staying for the analysis.
I love this and how succinctly you're able to explain depth and nuance. Subscribed and can't wait for more!
I've been a huge CHICAGO fan and I didn't know most of these facts. Subscribed! This video is amazing!
"Mr. Cellophane" is also an homage to the 1930 German film THE BLUE ANGEL. (The look of the original production was very German expressionistic.) Compare Barney Martin's coat and its oversized collar with that of Emil Jannings' cabaret clown coat in THE BLUE ANGEL. In the film, Janning plays a professor who falls in love with and marries cabaret singer Lola Lola, Marlene Dietrich. She cuckolds him, humiliates him and leads him to madness.
Great to know, thanks!
Coming next: the secret hip-hop roots of Hamilton.
Stunning. Wow.
This is a dramaturges wet dream. As one … thank you. Fantastic work.
Just for future reference, her name was pronounced Texas Guy-Nan, not Guee-Nan.
I'm the director of the production of Assassins you used in the video. Honored to be featured. How did you get the footage. Not mad just curious.
Congrats! And I hope it is fine that I used it and credited the theatre. This clip is one of the top search results for "Unworthy of Your Love Assassins". Lauren E Smith posted it on her channel I guess. Finding an appropriate clip on RUclips was surprisingly difficult. I really liked your staging and sets; and of your course the performers were fantastic. Also, a lot of snooping had to be done to figure out what theatre company it was in order to credit it correctly.
@into_the_hoods ah gotcha. She played squeaky for me. It's totally fine I was just curious.
Ps it's Kenner not Lenner :)
Fun Fact: Texas Guinan was portrayed by Phyllis Diller in the film Splendor in The Grass (1961) directed by Elia Kazan
Really excellent - thank you!
Chicago premiered in 1975, not 1976.
Yep, you're correct! My confusion was that Chicago's Tony Awards acknowledgements happened at the 1976 Tonys.
I saw it on NY with Jinkx Monsoon as Mama.
"Siegfried Follies" star?
CHICAGO opened in June 1975, twenty years before the O.J. Simpson trial. What was happening during the mid-1970s that, according to its creators, influenced the writing of CHICAGO? Watergate and the Sam Ervin Senate hearings. A lot of those involved with the Watergate break-in and its cover-up ended up on the talk-show circuit plugging their books for which they had received big advances.
It was in the mind of fossie since the 60s. They just waited for the writer of the original play to die (which she did in 1969) before they could get the rights, something like that
Chicago the Fosse Musical had its Broadway debut in 1975 not 1976. If it had been 76 it would have fared much better at the Tony Awards- instead of being pulverized by the Sensation that was “A Chorus Line”
which is based on the Ginger Rogers film Roxie. and Vaudeville was great.
GUINAN (as in Texas Guinan) is properly pronounced GYE-NAN.
I am embarrassed and you are correct! I had thought I did my research on that. I typically try to find documentaries where people's names are spoken, which I did for some of the other figures in this video, but I clearly missed Guinan's. I guess I'm the real sucker.
wish the background music wasn't so loud =(
Sorry! Turn on subtitles and thanks for watching :)
Also it’s ZIGFIELD Follies…. NOT ZIGFRIED Follies as you mistakenly refer to the iconic over the top Follies Peoducer from the era….. 😉 😉
It's ZIEGFELD, not ZIGFIELD.
I think you're confusing vaudeville with burlesque. Certainly, in the original Fosse version, he drew on his and Verdon's experience in burlesque. The costumes wouldn't have been permitted in vaudeville. Also, I'm pretty sure Texas' last name is pronounced GUY-nan.
ETA: It's Ziegfeld, not Ziegfried.
The original Fosse production was billed as "A Musical Vaudeville," not as "The Musical." A vaudeville is a show containing a series of variety acts. You're confusing CHICAGO with SUGAR BABIES, which billed itself as "The Burlesque Musical."
@@njatty No, I'm not. It may be called a musical Vaudeville, but the type of dance and the costumes are pure burlesque.
Burlesque, which was considered "lower" than vaudeville, but was also, like Vaudeville and British music hall, a series of unconnected acts with different performers getting different lengths of time depending upon where they were on the bill. Fosse and Verdon were just barely too young for Vaudeville, but they both worked in Burlesque houses early in their careers.
It's pronounced Texas GUY-nan, not GUI-nan.
Texas' first name is pronounced GUY-nan, not GWEEN-nan or whatever your keep saying.