· By Tarleton Walmsley
Guest List: A person, living or dead, real or imagined, that we'd invite over for dinner.
Confession: I'm really late to the Fosse/Verdon fanaticism. I'm not exactly a big fan of Broadway, probably due to not knowing that much about it. So when I heard Michelle Williams' Emmy acceptance speech a few weeks back, my interest was piqued.
Needless to say, I went on a major binge-watching of the FX show and it was incredible. Fosse and Verdon's relationship was nothing short of tumultuous, and as is the case with a lot of famous entertainers, Verdon's career was ultimately shadowed by Fosse's. And yet when Verdon met Fosse in 1955, she was the darling of Broadway after her Tony winning performance in Can-Can. Despite Fosse's distraction with other women, leading to multiple affairs, what I found interesting was the dedication to their craft. That never seemed to waver, and so while there may not have been much devotion in the bedroom, Fosse and Verdon remained faithful in supporting each other's careers.
So of course I'd have the real Gwen Verdon over for dinner. We would talk about what it feels like to win multiple Tony awards, and where she displayed them in her home. We'd also cover topics like dance costumes, tap shoes, and favorite dance moves.
