Bob Fosse

Chicago the musical is based on a play written in the year 1926 with the same name. This play was written by a lady called Maurine Dallas Watkins. It was about criminals and any crimes of which she has reported as she herself was a reporter. Maurine Watkins also covered the stories of murderesses Beulah Annan and Belva Gartner for the Chicago Tribune. 

It is also based on a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse its set in the Prohibition era. The Prohibition era was when there was a ban on sales and production as well as the transportation of alcohol. It was also known as the "dry" movement and continued in the 1840's and led by those involved in the pietistic religious denominations. (a movement within  that lasted from the late 17th century to the mid-18th century.










The style of the 1920's (Western fashion)



After events of World War one things began to change, fashion began to change. The womans rights movement made a strong impact on their fashion choices. For example, the corset was no longer worn and in place of that was a camisole, chemise or bloomers, These later developed. Women's legs were seen due to dresses and hemlines becoming shorter (rising above the knee) and fitted. Additionally, women began to take to a more boystrous look that meant cutting their hair in a bob, styling it into an Eton crop or Marcel Waves. This style of fashion was known as Bohemian.

This is the year of which women began to wear items such as short skirts and trousers that were more comfortable than any previous items that were restricting. At the same time, men began to top wearing formal wear as everyday wear and they too went for the more comfortable style. It became more toned down and in some cases their atire would look sporty rather than formal. At first this style of change proved difficult due to people being reluctant to such change. But however, by1925 this all changed and there came about 'The Roaring Twenties'.

Items such as fringe dresses, feather boars, faux scarfs, rhinestones, hats, other glamorous head The way in which women dressed also depended on their role in society. The more forward-looking, younger woman would wear sportswear. Teenagers hadpreviously worn tubular dresses but that later changed and became much simplar with a shorter skirt, pleats or gathers and to allow motion, splits. A for the hats, the Cloche hat became widley popular and so women would cut there hair in order to fit into one. 

Surrealism (a cultural movement that began in the early 1920's) strongly influenced fashion after World War One. Woman who were more wealthy were expected to change their atire based on the time of day, so they would have a dress that they might wear in the morning and a dress that they might wear in the afternoon. The dresses that were worn in the afternoon were unlike the gowns for the evening, less form-fitting. The evening dresses that were worn in theevening were slightly longer than the afternoon dresses and were either velvet or satin with either rhinestones or a fringe and embelished with beads.

Bob Fosse himself

It was first made into a silent film in 1927. The broadway production opened in 1975 at the 46th Street Theatre. 

Robert Louis Fosse born June 23rd 1927 in Chicago Illinois was an all round dancer, actor, director, screenwriter, musical theatre choreographer, film editor and film director. He won eight Tony Awards for his renowned choreography. He is now famous for his distinct, effective style known today as Fosse. He was in numerous shows himself including Call Me Mister with his first wife and dance partner Mary Ann Niles. This performance made him recognised by Dea Martin and Jerry Lewis.

Bob Fosse choreographed his first musical 'The Pajama Game' in 1955. In 1957 he choreographed 'New Girl In Town' he himself performed a song and dance number in Stanley Donens 1974 film version of 'The Little Prince'. He also directed five feature films including 'Sweet Charity'. Fosse's style was then made into a movie called fosse.

Fosse

Fosse is a dance style created by Bob Fosse. It's a style of dance that has been used in countless musical numbers including Sweet Charity, Chicago, Fosse and Cabaret. The jazz style was both sexy and stylish it's become so recognisable over the years. The Fosse trademark movements are sideways shuffling, turned in knees, rolled shoulders and 'broken wrists'. 

Here are some images of Fosse's style. Some may be recognisable such as the third image as that movement, stance is used in Chicago the musical.

Even modern day artists like Michael Jackson and Beyonce use elements of Fosse in their routines.






This is a clip from the musical Sweet Charity. Here you'll recognise some of the elements of Fosse that I had earlier described.