Gwen Verdon

<p> American dancer singer and actress Gwen Verdon (1925-2000) won four Tony awards for her work on Broadway and also appeared in films and on television. Stricken with rickets as a child Verdon overcame severe leg deformity through ballet training making her film debut at 11 as a solo ballerina in the musical <I>The King Steps Out</I> (1936). Her theater credits include <I>Can-Can</I> (1953-1955) <I>Damn Yankees</I> (1955-1956) <I>Redhead</I> (1959-1960) <I>New Girl in Town</I> (1957-1958) <I>Sweet Charity</I> (1966-1967) and <I>Chicago</I> (1975-1977). When not dancing on stage or screen she coached other actors such as Jane Russell Lana Turner Betty Grable Marilyn Monroe and Shirley MacLaine. This first full-length biography of Verdon covers her life and career her individual performances and her collaborations with choreographers Jack Cole and Bob Fosse her husband.</p>