The Choreography of Bob Fosse Comes Alive on Broadway in “Dancin’”

Photo by Julieta Cervantes

The opinions reflected in this review are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of staff, faculty and students of The King's College.

(REVIEW) When considering the choreography of Broadway musicals, a few iconic names come to mind: Michael Bennet (A Chorus Line) and Jerome Robbins (West Side Story). But none is more revered in the theater community than Bob Fosse. Fosse is the choreographer behind “Chicago,” “Cabaret,” “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” and “Pippin” among others, all shows made famous primarily for their elaborate, stunning dance numbers.

In the late 1970s, Fosse conceived and staged a musical completely his own. It lacked a narrative arc or cohesive theme, consisting of a series of vignettes told mostly through dance (with a little bit of singing mixed in). The spectacle, entitled “Dancin’,” opened at the Broadhurst Theatre in 1978 and ran for over four years.

This month, “Dancin’” returns to New York City under the direction of Wayne Cliento, a cast member of the original 1978 production. 

“My vision for this Dancin’ included a fresh, updated take on the show and to introduce Fosse to a new generation of audiences,” said Cliento.

I went into this show really hoping to enjoy it. Fosse's dance style is distinct, and the idea of removing the structure of a typical musical and watching just the choreography merely for its own sake was intriguing. However, it wasn’t far into the show that I was ready to start wrapping things up. 

A few of the numbers struck me as quite poetic and interesting to watch, but most of the show devolved into a mad spectacle as the lights and cranked-up speakers muddied the usually crisp nature of Fosse’s dances. This is a show that clearly shines brighter in the quieter moments but can’t resist the temptation to flip on the strobe lights.

After two hours, I really had no idea what the abstract construction of “Dancin’” was supposed to leave with the audience. Throughout the eclectic mix of numbers, the only two continuous questions I really had were: “How much money do they spend on cigarettes for one show?” and “How do their hats never fall off?”

Overall, “Dancin’” is a fairly mediocre show. It’s random and too long, but for fans of Bob Fosse, it won’t be either of those things. The original production was shorter, and several numbers included in this production were cut early in development in 1978. Restoring those numbers is a sweet nod to Fosse’s work, but it’s a mistake for the integrity of this show. 

Ultimately, it’s a show that ought to have about forty minutes of material cut to facilitate a 90-minute one-act show instead of asking audiences to endure a two-hour and 15-minute slog. For the average theater-goer looking for a great evening on Broadway this season, you certainly can do a lot better than this show.

“Dancin’” is currently running at the Music Box Theatre through August 6, 2023.

Eli Johnson is the Theatre Columnist for the Empire State Tribune. He is a sophomore at The King's College majoring in Business. He is an avid theatre-goer and always enjoys a game of chess.