Fosse, raised in the theater, was a risk since his only other film, "Sweet Charity, " had bombed.

WSJ: 'Cabaret' celebrates 41st birthday with a party

Mr. Rhodes cited the classic number by Bob Fosse, "Rich Man's Frug, " from "Sweet Charity, " in which the main character winds up at party that's out of her league.

WSJ: Culture City: Searching Every Stage for Broadway Dance

"Home is not sweet anymore, " said Fadimata Alainchar, a charity worker and native of nearby Timbuktu.

CNN: Broken limbs, torn lives in northern Mali

Gone are the days when women's philanthropy referred only to sweet dears who ran the school auction or gussied up for the charity ball.

CNN: The power of the purse