American Jazz <3

Question 1

When was chicago created

Answer 1

The stage musical was performed in 1975

Question 2

What are some key influences/origins of Chicago - can you name specific reports that inspired the characters storylines

Answer 2

–> Maurine Watkins - Crime reports (Roxie based on Baulah Annane)
–> The prohibition era (1920s) - ban of alcohol, height of speakeasies
–> His heart attack - made it darker and grittier
–> Vaudeville - dark humour and teasing sexual tones
–> desire for sexual freedom in America in 1960’s

Question 3

What are each of the sections specialised/choreographed as

Answer 3

All vaudevillian acts

Question 4

What’s Bob Fosse’s style?

Answer 4

–> finger snaps, pelvic thrusts
–> Vulgar movements
–> Splayed hands, inverted knees
–> Revealing costumes - sexualises women
–> Element of surprise
–> Angular positions

Question 5

What was the impact that Chicago had

Answer 5

–> Nominated for 10 Tony Awards in 1976
–> Celebrities have taken main roles which increased publicity for the show
–> Audience come away loving criminals, basically suggesting that society accepts criminals - making crime attractive

Question 6

What are some of the main themes within the section they both reached for the gun within the work of Chicago

Answer 6

–> Facade through Ventriloquism
–> Vaudevillian feels
–> Crime
–> using femininity as a weapon for sympathy

Question 7

What was Chicago dedicated to

Answer 7

Fosse dedicated Chicago to his wife

Question 8

What’s a key motif from the section they both reached for the gun

Answer 8

Roxie sits on Billy Flynn’s lap centre stage facing the audience being used as a puppet while he uses his hidden talent of ventriloquism to make it appear as if Roxie is narrating her traumatic event causing her to commit a crime. While mouthing the words ‘They both reached for the gun’ she reaches forwards towards the audience with her left arm (up and forwards) in a smooth but energised manner. She does this while mouthing the words in an over expressive nature adding this element of Vaudeville comedy

Question 9

What’s the costume like in the section they both reached for the gun in Chicago

Answer 9

Billy Flynn - black suit, blazer, red tie, trousers, white shirt
Roxie - black dress
professional clothing

Question 10

When was The Pajama Game created

Answer 10

1954 - Broadway
1957 - film (one we use, so more important to remember this date)

Question 11

What’s The Pajama Game about

Answer 11

The Pajama Game is about a union strike at a pajama factory due to unfair wages.

Question 12

What are some origins of The Pajama Game

Answer 12

–> Fosse’s first fully choreographed show in 1954 - influenced the movie version (one we study)
–> Directed by George Abbott and Jerome Robbins
–> Based on the 1953 novel 7 1/2 cents by by Richard Bissell and George Abbott
–> Based on Labor Unions

Question 13

What are some of the main influences of The Pajama Game

Answer 13

–> Vaudeville
–> Working class people
–> American Politics
–> Charlie Chaplin (costuming
–> Personal life & training
–> Collaboration with Abbott & Robbins
–> Jack Cole

Question 14

What else did George Abbot Direct

Answer 14

–> On the Town 1944
–> Damn Yankees 1955

Question 15

What’s the costuming like within the number Steam Heat

Answer 15

–> Charlie Chaplin inspired
–> Black suits (trousers and blazer)
–> Black jazz shoes
–> White collared shirt
–> Red bow tie
–> Black bowler hat
–> Costumes reflects rich people even though the factory is supporting and championing the lower class

Question 16

What the impact of Fosse’s work on The Pajama Games

Answer 16

–> Enabled Fosse to collaborate with Abbott a year later on Damn Yankees
–> The start of Fosse’s success - his style was recognised
–> Reflected and supported american politics & economy at the time

Question 17

What are some key themes within the section Steam Heat

Answer 17

–> Gender Equality (costuming)
–> Excessive fuel consumption
–> Public awareness
–> Performing

Question 18

What’s a key motif within the section Steam Heat

Answer 18

In unison, the 3 dancers stand centre stage in a horizontal line facing stage right while holding their hats with their upstage hand into their chest. They extend their arms out in front of them in a smooth manner while the downstage arm remains down by their side while creating a hissing noise with their mouth, reflecting the smoothness and noise created as smoke flows out of a steam train during fuel combustion.

Question 19

What was Bob Fosse’s style

Answer 19

–> Inverted / turnt in knees and toes
–> Curved shoulders
–> Egg cup hands
–> Hip rolls and thrusts
–> Jazz hands, splayed fingers
–> Clear and sharp movements
–> Sultry dynamic throughout
–> Use of props
–> Theatrical

Question 20

What was Bob Fosse’s background

Answer 20

–> Did a Vaudeville circuit as a child
–> His arthritis influenced his unique dance style

Question 21

What were some of Jerome Robbin’s influences

Answer 21

–> Gluck Sandor - first mentor
–> George Balanchine - choreographed ballet Russes and has a neoclassical style in his ballet works

Question 22

Who composed the music was Jerome Robbins works

Answer 22

Leonard Bernstein - composed music for Fancy Free Ballet and West Side Story

Question 23

What was Jerome Robbins dance style

Answer 23

–> Use of ballet, modern, jazz, interpretive and other dance forms to make his movement style difficult to characterise
–> Naturalism
–> Real people - works notable for their humanity
–> Use of energy - Cool
–> Atmosphere
–> Humour
–> Musically driven

Question 24

What impact did Jerome Robbins have on the development of American Jazz

Answer 24

–> Fancy Free Ballet lifted spirits during the world war.
–> Developed American jazz by focussing on a hybrid style of jazz and later developed the triple threat performer
–> Focuses on American subjects

Question 25

When was the Fancy Free Ballet created by Jerome Robbins

Answer 25

1944

Question 26

What were some origins of the Fancy Free Ballet

Answer 26

–> Told to think ‘small’ from Ballet Theatre
–> Wanted to create something with an American theme with American music
–> Oliver Smith a collaborator on Fancy Free knew Leonard Bernstein - the start of their collaboration of Bernstein creating music for majority of Robbins works

Question 27

What were some influences for the creation of the Fancy Free Ballet

Answer 27

–> Dance training background
–> Leonard Bernstein - composer - collaborated many times after this
–> WW2
–> Sailors
–> Variety of dance styles
–> American themes

Question 28

What are some key dance styles within the Fancy Free Ballet

Answer 28

–> Character driven
–> Naturalism - i.e dance emerging from a walk
–> Jazz
–> Ballet
–> Latin
–> Gestural
–> Pedestrian
–> Theatrical
–> Comedy

Question 29

What was the impact of Fancy Free Ballet on the development of American Jazz

Answer 29

–> It was a breakthrough - lifted people up during WW2
–> Was a hit for American Ballet Theatre
–> Ballet became a musical ‘On the Town ‘ in 1944 - Smith’s idea
–> Helped establish Bernstein as a composer and Oliver Smith as set designer
–> Modern feel to ballet

Question 30

How do the 3 soloists differ in dance styles and which dance styles do they represent. Give a movement example

Answer 30

The sailors personalities are based off Jerome himself and his friends.
–> First solo - cocky, very jazz based to show this (box jumps, splits, theatrical , high energy, fist pump at the end - shows he is a man ect)
–> Second solo - shy, more balletic and softer dynamic (attitude turns, develope’s, arms behind his back - keeping to himself ect)
–> Third solo - based off Robbins acts as the leader of the group, more confident and happy, latin infused (Claps, slicks, arm gestures, motif repetition, found sound - hitting the table ect)

Question 31

What are the costumes within Fancy Free Ballet

Answer 31

–> They wear sailor suits (all white trousers, long sleeved shirt with black tie loosely tied around their neck
–> Black jazz shoes
–> They all wear their hats slightly differently to distinguish their different characters

Question 32

What are some features of Latin Dance

Answer 32

–> Fast and fiery dynamics
–> Salsa - hip movements
–> Rhythmic
–> Accents, syncopated ect
–> Energetic Footwork