All That Jazz | 1979
Taking its title from a number in Chicago (originally choreographed on Broadway by Bob Fosse), Bob Fosse’s story of workaholic, sexually compulsive choreographer, Joe Gideon (Roy Scheider) seems more than a little autobiographical, was filmed on location around New York.
The opening ‘cattle call’ audition for aspiring hoofers was staged in Manhattan’s Palace Theatre, 1564 Broadway in the Theatre District. The Palace was the pre-eminent vaudeville theatre since it opened, and "Playing the Palace" meant that a performer had ‘made it’.
In 1965, the Palace became a legitimate theatre for the opening of Sweet Charity starring Gwen Verdon. Since then, it has housed hits including Lauren Bacall in Applause and Woman of the Year, Richard Kiley in Man of La Mancha and George Hearn in the musical of La Cage Aux Folles. In 1994, the theatre was transformed to house Disney's Beauty and the Beast, which was followed by their musical, Aida.
