Gwen Verdon interviewed by Rian Keating, 1983 Public Access

[@CarmenZynger]

"I decided that it was his problem, not mine", when Gwen was asked how she felt when a childhood acquaintance mentioned that she was still in corrective boots after watching "Redhead" the musical. Love this woman! 🤗

[@MyleeToole]

38 years ago this interview took place. Rian was so insightful in this interview. And Gwen Verdon shows us who she is and her perspective on so many facets of dance and her life. Having seen Fosse Verdon, I am fascinated with Gwen Verdon and sad that she did not reach the fame and notoriety that she deserved due to circumstance. Personally I would have liked her to reach that notoriety. Liza Minelli is great to watch but her glory was short lived. Gwen Verdon continuously dedicated herself to her work, to her husband and her children. She is one of the best dancers ever. So glad that Nicole showed us who she was and so glad to see all of the Gwen Verdon videos that introduced me to her. I hope that one day Nicole writes the book on Gwen Verdon and tells us more about her.

[@Slipslod]

This is by far one of the best interviews that I have ever watched. Thoughtful and respectful. Mr. Keating asked the questions that got Ms. Verdon to go deep and reveal herself and her perspective. He's young but very sincere. Great job.

[@ginabattz9716]

She is so kind. He’s so young and nervous, and I just love her for it💕

[@SDoesNotKnow]

This was an incredible interview. I'm a bit younger, so I've been conditioned to expect interviews from the 2000s that I hadn't much experience seeing what truly well-researched, educated, eloquent, AND respectful interviews looked like. Rian, you should feel proud of what you accomplished here. Also, Gwen Verdon was OMG. No words. She was just the greatest of all time. I think she really enjoyed being interviewed by someone who did not ask boring questions and who really knew the subject he was interviewing including other interests she had like psychotherapy. When she spoke about psychotherapy, you really saw her light up.

[@SDoesNotKnow]

Now that I've seen Ep. 3 of Fosse/Verdon...re-watching 4:47 broke my heart. Now I understand Gwen's answer fully.

[@noracharles9366]

Well said ❤

[@theblueangel28]

what a terrific interview! I mean, it was actually an interview

[@salgaldenco]

"It's been a very special interview." Yes it was Rian. Great job. I found Gwen's involvement in mental health interesting. It should be mandatory in the entertainment industry, of course any walk of life. Thanks for posting.

[@garrygivens1680]

For me what made this interview so amazing was #1 Your research on her, it was thorough and for you to be so young at the time, your knowledge on her I found was strangely impeccable. Most young people would not have been at that maturity level. I will admit, at that time being young myself, the only thing I knew of her was her sexually charged performance in the film DAMN YANKEES. Kudos to you for securing an interview with such an Iconic Figure. I hope that you know that this clip is gold. Good job!!

[@willmcmillan1430]

What a delight to watch this interview. You asked well-informed questions, Rian, and Ms. Verdon responded thoughtfully and candidly (and she even was gracious enough to overlook/ignore the banging noises in the background during one portion of your interview...) I fell in love with her voice - after listening to the original cast recording of SWEET CHARITY many times - a couple of years ago when I was putting together an hour of songs with lyrics by Dorothy Fields. THANK YOU for taping this conversation with Ms. Verdon back in the 80s, and THANK YOU again for sharing it with us via KZbin in 2019!

[@chookaschookas444]

Most enlightening

[@RAFAELISWATCHING]

I love this Interview. She is a Gem! There isn’t enough about Gwen. Her personal story is so fascinating. Then add being a SuperStar. It’s just remarkable.

[@J330R]

A Facebook "friend" just posted this interview, "For those getting excited about the upcoming FX series, Fosse/Verdon." Were you a dancer yourself, Rian? Because your questions were not only respectful and well researched, but it came across as you really knew what's in a dancer's heart with questions like those. What a charming interview.

[@riankeating8649]

No, unfortunately I have two left feet, but I did a lot of research and tried to not be overwhelmed. It was a real coupe because she hated giving interviews, but I she relented because I was so young and it was just public access. Still a thrill to think it happened at all!

[@bigred8432]

This is just WONDERFUL. Thank you so much for sharing this.

[@johndelossantos7678]

Love this interview, so lucky to have this, wish there was more Gwen Verdon on film and video

[@bethperry8514]

Fascinating. Now that's a real interview.

[@troubadourtr56]

Brilliant, Rian! This is an archival treasure that will be referred long into the future for those studying the history of the individuals involved and the art of dance and film.

[@danceexpressiondancearts1431]

She's an ICON!!!

[@hefinrosser8685]

I've always loved the amazing Miss Verdon. 're visiting this I can see what an incredible interpretation Michelle Williams did in playing her xxx

[@claudiacagan5280]

Such a wonderful treasure, Rian. Her memory and extraordinary performances will be in our hearts forever.

[@noracharles9366]

Amazing interview ❤

[@GoLightly01100]

She was stunningly beautiful, and I never really "saw" that until this video. Thank you, what a treasure!

[@jamie1044]

She aged very well.

[@danielhousset3210]

This is just incredible ! Wonderful ! So precious !!! Thank You Thank You Thank You !

[@scottishphotographer]

What a fantastic interview Rian! Thank you.

[@performerjudimark]

Whenever I listen to your interview with Gwen I get more insights into her character and personality. You asked important questions and she understood. This helps me perform my show honoring her. Judi Mark “Merely Marvelous: The Songs of Gwen Verdon” ❤

[@riankeating8649]

Thanks, Judi! You do her proud! Happy New Year!

[@johnrinaldi8782]

Rian, this is so wonderful!!!! What a beautiful memorial to this marvelous woman. I love her so much :)

[@kennethbrady]

Excellent interview, pal.

[@nonenoneonenonenone]

What a terrific interview, such perceptive and interesting questions. Celebrity talk shows are always so frustrating because they just skim the surface.

[@KingRoper]

What a great interview! It's charming how after just a few minutes it seems you warmed to each other and both of you relaxed and you lead her into some really interesting topics.

[@johntlew]

Great to hear Gwen talk about her career and influences. She was a smart performer and hearing her makes one understand how much of a role she had in assisting Bob Fosse and his career. PS I love the hammering noise in the background.

[@stevecubine4717]

WONDERFUL interview

[@CPaul-cm7qk]

Rian ...great interview....love Gwen Verdon....but this says it posted 2 years ago...but doesn't actually tell you when this interview took place?????

[@jayhartbarger2793]

little could she have known what a rare glimpse into her this would provide for generations.

[@CountryCowboy008]

Out of curiosity, after watching Fosse/Verdon, I searched for a video of the actual Gwen and see if Michelle has nailed playing her like what a lot of them claims she did. And boy, did she nail it! I got goosebumps!! Her talking voice is just like Gwen!!!

[@dawnlittle2501]

Wonderful interview! I hope he continued in this field. I leaned a lot about Gwen Verdon due to his thorough questions and her interesting answers.

[@nickmiscusi1]

I love this interview. As a dancer it's a gift to receive her wisdom. At 17:19 I screamed at my computer screen, "WOULD YOU PLEASE HOLD THE WORK!" But they didn't hear me and kept on talking and hammering.

[@AbbeBuck]

Thank you, Rian Keating 😊

[@devilthecheese99]

Great interview! Thank you for posting this! You may have been young but you had all going on!

[@LHSnLA]

what a treat - great clip!

[@Izabellb]

THANK YOU!!!! Amazing. Deepest gratitude!

[@angelawisdom-graves9945]

Amazing interview!

[@jodonato3040]

Wonderful interview!!

[@mop714]

I had always wanted to be a dancer, and I love fosse/verdon`s style of dance. Watch "Who`s got the pain" routine. This is their talent at their best. Great interview.

[@jamie1044]

Great interview! Thank you for sharing.

[@VivianMcall]

you asked very meaningful questions, thank you for sharing this moment

[@mmace63]

Love this, Rian! Very interesting and compelling interview. Thanks for sharing.

[@brandonburrell8517]

Great interview.

[@bennettsilverstein]

Gwen Verdon was the best dancer who ever lived. She is very missed.

[@Bella_Mar]

I have to admit, prior to Fosse/Verdon, I didn't know about Gwen Verdon. 🤷🏻‍♀️ And the way she was played by Michelle Williams made me dislike her, which is why I was looking for real life interviews to see what she was really like. She actually seems very down-to-earth and sweet, with a strong work ethic, while being very realistic about life. I realize now I like the real Gwen, just not the way she was played by Williams, despite the awards. Thank you for sharing this; very thoughtful interview!

[@alexgill3630]

Gwen is such a Legend and such a strong woman in every way...thank you for pacing the way for young girls...classy!! in every way!! It would have been nice to have the guy interview info be a little more sensitive to how he asked his questions and possible NOT ask some of the questions he did...wasn’t engaged only thinking about his next questions...and even asked questions inappropriate...Gwen made it fun...which is what he should have focused on! Thank you Gwen for you it Grace and amazing talent ♥️🔥🔥🌺🙏🏽

[@johndalton3180]

Smart lady. Excellent interview.

[@spjw2566]

Behind The Curtain brought me here.....happy to discover!

[@josephmarcello7481]

Interesting encounter.. poor Gwen, she seems to have come through some genuine crises, and appears quite vulnerable and at times, uncertain. Wonder if she struggled with lack of self-confidence throughout her career...

[@RichardSkipperCelebrates]

Wow! How lucky you ARE!

[@AbbeBuck]

F I E R C E !!! And now we know even more.

[@oneseeker2]

She was very kind to do this interview.

[@riankeating8649]

I think her maternal instinct kicked in when I called her. I still don't quite believe it. Thanks for watching.

[@nancywoolsey2388]

Rian Keating wonderful interview!

[@KenDanieli]

Every video about Fosse/Verdon hits on the message that Verdon was underappreciated and really did half of the work of choreography, direction, etc. while Fosse got most of the credit. See all the FX videos and PR interviews with Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams and the writers and producers. They repeat that message continually. In THIS interview at 11 minutes, she's asked about the natural progression from dancer to choreographer and Gwen volunteers that she could apply Fosse's techniques to anything but "to come up with an original idea, I couldn't do it." at 18 minutes "that's why I know I'm not a choreographer." 23 minutes "He's the director. He's the choreographer. " Yeah I'm a fan and I loved the show. But Fosse/Verdon show had an agenda as they all do these days (see also the Versace show with its fictitious agenda driven home with repetition.) No doubt she's terrific. And for that reason I'll take Gwen's word for it over the words of the Hollywood propagandists 35 years later.

[@hospering]

Well, actually, according to many dancers who worked with her, and other people who saw her working, she came out often with original ideas, during her period with Jack Cole when she was also his assistant (and she choreographed by herself, and is even credited, the movie The mississippi gambler) and then during her period with Fosse. One very clear example was Who's got the pain, where her input, based on her work with Cole is very present. She kept working on choreographies constantly with Fosse. She assisted him, working directly with the dancers (always uncredited of course), also in shows where she wasn't in the cast, like Little me, or How to succeed in business without really trying. For her it was natural to blend her ideas with his style, as she had done for Jack Cole. It would have been really interesting to see what she could have done choreographing more on her own but I think she didn't feel the need or the desire to explore that.

[@KenDanieli]

@@hospering Don't actually me.

[@hospering]

@@KenDanieli just an adverb. Peace.

[@Volvican]

I didn’t think that the show -F/V made that contention. It never showed her choreographing. But it certainly showed that both of them seemed to need each other’s abilities in order to actually do some of what they did.

[@robrivax]

@@hospering I think also, Gwen was a better performer than Fosse. Her best was on stage performing, not that she couldn't choreograph, but as she states, Fosse was the director and choreographer, and lucky for us: Gwen was the performing Superstar.

[@MrCrowebobby]

"You have to be prepared to die twice, 'cause athletes die twice -- as an athlete they die and they drop dead finally at the end of their life . . . and a dancer does the same thing."

[@thebiscuitrose]

11:50 handling "rejection"

[@thebiscuitrose]

4:09 "Red Head" in San Francisco

[@Sanchordia]

Not a fan of Dick Cavett? I loved this interview!

[@robertd.carver6240]

Who the F*CK would be off-stage hammering away when Verdon (or indeed any actor, singer or dancer!) is on stage or camera?

[@thebiscuitrose]

19:34 being a triple threat; how to be taken seriously as an actor

[@MrCrowebobby]

Love Gwen, of course, but Rian was a cutie of the first water at that age.

[@thebiscuitrose]

Ruth St Dennis taught Jack Cole

[@thebiscuitrose]

17:55 Can Can....

[@rhonadrossman9238]

Hi, Rian, I was thinking about you, and your interview with Gwen Verdon appeared on my screen! It really is a remarkable presentation. I have been watching FOSSE/VERDON and reminiscing...All those wonderful theater education programs, and getting to meet you and so many other educators at OPEN STAGES who were so passionate about theater arts! Thanks for sharing.