The Unjustly Insecure Bob Fosse Quiz

Answer: Chicago

Bob Fosse was born on June 23, 1927 in Chicago, the setting of his later hit show. He grew up loving the burlesque shows there, and eventually performing in them. He died 60 years and three months later to the day, on the way to a revival of one of his shows, "Sweet Charity." A short life, but an artistically prolific one.

Answer: He won all of them

Not only did Fosse win directing awards in all 3 categories, he is the only one to ever do so in the same year! The productions all took place or were released in 1972, the ceremonies were in 1973. He won a Tony for "Pippin," an Oscar for "Cabaret," and an Emmy for "Liza With A 'Z'." Even then he joked all these good things might cheer him up and ruin his career.

Answer: Derby

While Fosse used all of these hats at one time or another, the derby is the most famous. It showed up in the famous "Steam Heat" number in "The Pajama Game", on himself in "The Little Prince", in "Redhead", etc.

Answer: Ann Reinking

While Reinking was probably second only to Verdon in length and importance of relationship, they were never married. Niles was his short-lived first marriage; they did stage and early television performances together. Second wife McCracken, quite a bit older, was famous in her own right, particularly for her featured role in the MGM musical, "Good News." She encouraged Fosse to get more schooling and be more ambitious. Verdon was his last wife and also his artistic muse. Even though they separated in the early 70's and she saw his countless relationships with other women, they continued to work together and remained friends, as well as having one child together, Nicole.

They never technically divorced.

Answer: Shirley Maclaine

It's true, folks! Hal Wallis was the producer. Janis Paige was actually already the first female lead (the male lead was John Raitt-Bonnie Raitt's dad). Shirley Maclaine amusingly recounted this story in many books (I recommend "My Lucky Stars" which is all show biz, no new age, and has a whole chapter on Fosse).

Answer: Green

"Divine Decadence," was almost always followed by, "Darling." It is a truly great performance in one of the great film musicals of all time.

Answer: The Snake

Fosse made this 1974 film at the request of his daughter, Nicole, who loved the book. Wearing a derby with a snakeskin band, snakeskin spats, and dressed all in black, the hissing and dancing Snake (Fosse did his own choreography) promised to help the Prince leave Earth anytime:"it's almost painless"...Fosse steals the picture.

Although Wilder was quite sweet as the fox....Donen had directed Fosse in 1953's "Give A Girl A Break" and they both started out as dancers, so their relationship went back a long way.

Answer: Jerry Orbach

Yep, "Law And Order's" tough Lennie Briscoe is more musical than you might think. He also was in the original Broadway show of "The Fantasticks" and did the voice of the popular character, Lumiere the candlestick ("Be Our Guest..."), in Disney's animated "Beauty And The Beast." Lithgow auditioned for the role in "Chicago" and went on to work for Fosse in "All That Jazz." Grey starred both the stage and screen versions of "Cabaret" and Rubinstein starred in "Pippin." Incidentally, the original "Chicago", as acclaimed as it was, had the misfortune to come out the same year as a little show called "A Chorus Line" and was completely shut out of the Tonys.

The 1996 revival won 6 Tonys, including Best Choreography (closely adapted from Fosse's) for Ann Reinking!

Answer: Dustin Hoffman

Dreyfuss was actually signed to play the part and, nervous, backed out (later he said he regretted not getting the chance to work with Fosse). Fosse wanted to play the part, but the studio decided he was too old and not enough of a box office draw. Beatty was interested, but only if the ending of the film were changed. Hoffman and Fosse worked brilliantly together in "Lenny," but it was a difficult relationship for both of them and not an experience either of them probably wanted to repeat.

Answer: 1977

Fosse won Best Director for "Cabaret" in 1972, even though "The Godfather" won Best Picture (semi-unusual for Director/Picture Award to split). Coppola and "The Godfather, Part II" beat Fosse and "Lenny" for 1974. For 1979, "All That Jazz" and Fosse and "Apocalypse Now" and Coppola lost to Robert Benton and "Kramer Vs. Kramer." I think film history will speak for itself.

At least "Apocalypse Now" won the Cannes Film Festival in 1979, tying with "The Tin Drum," and "All That Jazz" won Cannes in 1980, tying with "Kagemusha."