"This is one of the best biographies that I have ever read. Fosse is brilliantly written and pure entertainment." ~Miki

 

More than a quarter-century after his death, Bob Fosse's fingerprints on popular culture remain indelible. The only person ever to win Oscar, Emmy, and Tony awards in the same year, Fosse revolutionized nearly every facet of American entertainment, forever marking Broadway and Hollywood with his iconic style -- hat tilted, fingers splayed -- that would influence generations of performing artists. Yet in spite of Fosse's innumerable achievements, no accomplishment ever seemed to satisfy him, and offstage his life was shadowed in turmoil and anxiety. Now, bestselling author Sam Wasson unveils the man behind the swaggering sex appeal, tracing Fosse's untold reinventions of himself over a career that would spawn "The Pajama Game," "Cabaret," "Pippin," "All That Jazz," and "Chicago," one of the longest-running Broadway musicals ever. Drawing on a wealth of unpublished material and hundreds of sources -- friends, enemies, lovers, and collaborators, many of whom have never spoken publicly about Fosse before -- Wasson illuminates not only Fosse's prodigious professional life, but also his close and conflicted relationships with everyone from Liza Minnelli to Ann Reinking to Jessica Lange and Dustin Hoffman. Wasson also uncovers the deep wounds that propelled Fosse's insatiable appetites -- for spotlights, women, and life itself. In this sweeping, richly detailed account, Wasson's stylish, effervescent prose proves the ideal vehicle for revealing Bob Fosse as he truly was -- after hours, close up, and in vibrant color.

Miki says:
"This book is very long, but worth every minute spent reading. If you are a fan of dance, musical theater, New York, Hollywood, or cigarettes, this is a great read. I love all of the history and interesting facts, but above all, I love the excitement of Fosse's life.
 
From his early childhood, Fosse was thrust into the dark dungeons of backstage life and into the spotlight of Vaudeville and Burlesque theater. These early experiences set the path for the rest of Fosse's life and greatly impacted his relationships and career.
 
This is one of the best biographies that I have ever read. Fosse is brilliantly written and pure entertainment."