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http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/1881978580

Ben Vereen the hard way

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type

about

contributor

description

http://schema.org/description

  • "Biography of actor, dancer, and singer Ben Vereen, as told in his own words and those of his family, friends, colleagues, and observers. The program begins by exploring the hardships of his childhood in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, N.Y. ; his education at the High School of Performing Arts ; and his break into show business in Bob Fosse's Las Vegas production of Sweet Charity. Performance excerpts and still photos depict the highlights of his career in the theater, film and television: Golden boy (with Sammy Davis, Jr.), Hair (directed by Tom O'Horgan), Charles Gordone's play No place to be somebody, Jesus Christ Superstar, Pippin, his television variety show Comin' at ya, Funny lady (the film sequel to Funny girl, with Barbra Streisand), the television series Roots, and Fosse's autobiographical film All that jazz. Also discussed is the controversy aroused by his performances as Bert Williams, an African-American comedian who often appeared in blackface. The program also traces a difficult period in Vereen's life, beginning with his daughter's death in a traffic accident, his use of drugs to assuage his grief, and his severe injuries in a freak accident in the street. His rehabilitation and subsequent triumph in the musical Jelly's last jam, with Gregory Hines, followed by a montage of his life achievements, close the program."

genre

http://schema.org/genre

  • "Video"
  • "Interviews"
  • "Biographies"
  • "Biography"

name

http://schema.org/name

  • "Ben Vereen the hard way"

workExample