Sometimes you meet a filmmaker and you just get it. In just a few minutes it’s obvious why they are as successful as they are in what they do. “Fosse/Verdon’s” Thomas Kail is one of those creative forces. Behind his genuine smile, he’s a bundle of energy. And when he talks, his passion, self-deprecating humor and smarts shine through. You might find this hard to believe, but it’s a set of traits only a few in this business have. Trust, we’ll be talking about his work on the stage, on the small screen and even the big screen for a long, long time.
READ MORE: Michelle Williams earns an encore in the exceptional “Fosse/Verdon” [Review]
Kail’s name might not be familiar to you, but his work certainly is. He’s a Tony-award winner for “Hamilton,” a nominee for “In the Heights” and already a two-time Emmy Award winner for the musical special “Grease: Live.” Now, he’s earned two more Emmy nominations for producing and directing the acclaimed FX limited series.
Chronicling the relationship between legendary director/choreographer Bob Fosse (Sam Rockwell) and actress/choreographer Gwen Verdon (Michelle Williams), the program shines a spotlight a corner of history Kail says even many steeped in Broadway lore are unaware of. Kail’s vision led to 17 overall Emmy nominations for the series.
During our conversation, Kail reveals why he made this his post-“Grease: Live” engagement, the different aesthetic choices that went into the episodes depicting Fosse’s career from “Sweet Charity” to “Chicago” to “All That Jazz,” landing Rockwell and Williams in the title roles and much, much more.
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