Center for the Arts to present "Fosse"

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A 47-week international tour of the Tony Award-winning musical "Fosse" will begin at the Center for the Arts with a two-week residency leading up to public performances at 8 p.m. Sept. 18 and 8:30 p.m. Sept. 19 in the Mainstage theater in the Center for the Arts on the University at Buffalo North (Amherst) Campus.

Residency activities will include classes in scenic and lighting design, dance, and musical theatre for UB theatre and dance students. Company members also will rehearse in preparation for the tour.

"Fosse" highlights the popular, as well as lesser-known, work of legendary dancer, choreographer and director Bob Fosse. Fosse's style revolutionized the musical theater with the Broadway hits "Sweet Charity," "Chicago," "Dancin'," and the films "Cabaret" and "All That Jazz."

Long-time Fosse stars Gwen Verdon and Ann Reinking have recreated Fosse's groundbreaking work, and a talented cast of 26 dancers and singers brings Broadway's all-time best choreography to life.

"It is a true honor and a privilege to have the Fosse company choose our venue to rehearse and open their international tour," says Thomas Burrows, CFA director. "It confirms our belief that the quality of the center's performance and support spaces is on par with other major venues in this country. This opportunity also will address our mandate of presenting world-class entertainment to the community, and most importantly, it affords our theatre and dance students the rare chance to learn from, and interact with, a professional company and crew."

The tour will spend 15 weeks in the U.S., then travel for 32 weeks to such locations as Paris, Frankfurt, Milan, Scotland, Manchester, Birmingham, Denmark, Korea and South Africa.

The Sept. 19 performance of "Fosse" is part of Curtain Up! 2003, the 22nd annual official opening of Buffalo's theatre season.

Tickets for "Fosse" are $45 and $35, and are available at the Center for the Arts box office from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and at all Ticketmaster locations.

For more information call 645-ARTS.