Have you been watching Fosse/Verdon? The series is based on Sam Wasson's 2013 biography entitled Fosse, opens a new window, and focuses on the relationship between the choreographer and his third wife, Gwen Verdon. If you are loving the series or even if you just enjoy musical theater, you might want to check out some of the films and cast recordings of the stars' original work.
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Fosse first made a name for himself playing Hortensio in the 1953 film adaptation of Kiss Me Kate, opens a new window, a musical adaptation of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew.
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Fosse met Verdon in 1955 on the Broadway show Damn Yankees, opens a new window. Fosse was the choreographer and Verdon starred as the temptress Lola. The musical tells the story of a Washington Senators fan who sells his soul to the devil to become a great baseball player and to help his favorite team win the pennant. Both Fosse and Verdon would win Tony Awards for their work, and in 1958 the original cast starred in the movie version of the show.
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When they met, Verdon was already a Broadway star. Over her stage career she would win a total of four Tony Awards. Verdon and Fosse would work together on several other Broadway shows, including the original production of Chicago, opens a new window, which was directed and choreographed by Fosse with Verdon playing the starring role of Roxie Hart.
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Fosse and Verdon would continue to collaborate throughout the rest of his life. In 1972 Fosse directed the film version of Cabaret, opens a new window, which won eight Academy Awards, including his win for best director. He would follow that in 1973 with Pippin, opens a new window, which won five Tony Awards.
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In Verdon's later career she made guest appearances on television shows and worked in film, including Cocoon, opens a new window and its sequel Cocoon, opens a new window: The Return., opens a new window
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