My inspiration for this post came from my dear, longtime blogging friend, Debbie @ Musings by an ND Domer's Mom, who is not only a gifted...
If you are not a theater person, you might not be familiar with the phenomenal talents of Chita Rivera, so please bear with me in todays post. Lately I've watched a series of interviews, which reminded me of why I have always admired her so much, and felt the need to share it here.
The beautiful lady pictured above is Chita Rivera, who incidentally just turned 88 this past January!
Yes...EIGHTY-EIGHT!
Born in Washington, DC, the third of five children, Chita started off training as a ballet dancer at the young age of 5, but then eventually found her way to the Broadway stage. She has received 3 Tony Awards (nominated 10 times), The Kennedy Center Honors Award, and The Presidential Medal of Freedom. Chita is what theater people refer to as, a triple threat, because she dances, sings, and acts. And does all three fabulously!
But for as talented as she is, she remains humble and grounded; never forgetting to mention the many people who have helped her throughout her career.
Chita is primarily a stage performer and is strongly remembered for originating the role of, Anita (pictured below), in the Broadway musical, West Side Story ...
She is also known for originating the role of, Velma Kelly, in the Broadway musical, Chicago. Here she is with the equally talented, Gwen Verdon as, Roxie Hart...
Chita has been in movies as well, but the one she is most famous for is, Sweet Charity, in which she portrayed, Nickie. *Left photo: second in from the right. *Right photo: far right, with Shirley MacLaine and Paula Kelly...
My story about how our paths crossed, twice:
The first time I crossed paths with Chita Rivera was in 1977, when I was performing in a Las Vegas musical review called, "Bottoms Up", at Harrah's Lake Tahoe, in Lake Tahoe, NV.
The producer of our show knew Chita personally, so he invited her one evening when she was in Tahoe to see our third show. We did three shows a night at Harrah's (10pm, 12am, and 2am).
And I will remember this moment forever...
When the curtain went up that night, the cast was all onstage performing the opening number. And as we moved downstage (which is the area of the stage closest to the audience) my eyes caught Chita's eyes, and we smiled. I don't know how the hell that happened because I had no idea where she was sitting in the audience, but our eyes met the second the curtain went up and stage lights came on.
It felt like magic!
Anyway, after the show we were invited to go out into the audience and meet Chita Rivera. I was so excited, but also very nervous! I remember standing with the cast at the table where Chita was sitting with her friends, and thinking, "OMG...this is CHITA FREAKING RIVERA!!!! We all said hello and thanked her for coming to our show. She was so sweet, kind and encouraging, saying that she thoroughly enjoyed the show and that we were all wonderful. Before we walked away from the table, I looked at her, smiled again, and said, "It was so nice meeting you." She smiled back.
And that was it.
That is, until 1996, when I saw her again in the Broadway musical tour of, Kiss of the Spider Woman, in Tampa, Florida. I don't recall how I got the tickets or who I went to the show with, but I remember the show vividly. And Chita was AMAZING.
The musical is based on the movie, Kiss of the Spider Woman, which I saw during its initial release in 1985 and thought it was a brilliant film with a stellar cast.
Here is both the movie poster and the Playbill program from the staged musical...
The show opened (1993) at the Broadhurst theater in New York City...
Below are several photographs from the original Broadway show.
Now, keep in mind that by the time Kiss of the Spider Woman went out on the tour, Chita Rivera was 61-years old, performing EIGHT shows a week in a musical that was extremely physical. The night I saw the show, I couldn't believe my eyes because she performed as if she had the stamina of 20-year old.
Oh, and one more thing.
In 1986 in New York City, the car that Chita was driving was struck by a taxi, and she suffered a compound fracture in her left leg that required 16 screws and months of healing.
So yes, I was sitting in the audience that night in Tampa watching her and thinking, "This 61-year old woman has 16 screws in her leg, yet she is dancing like this? HOW?!?!?"
But that's what I love about theater performers -- their energy and tenacity. Their ability to always find a way around a challenge and adapt. Theater people are strong and resilient. They have to be, to do what they do night after night.
Here is Chita Rivera as, Aurora -The Spider Woman. Aurora isn't a flesh-and-blood character; she exists only in the mind of the character, Molina. Aurora is a combination of a 1940's glamorous musical movie star, and the kiss of death.
With Brent Carver as Molina, Anthony Crivello as Valentin.
Chita, Brent, and Anthony all won a Tony award for their performances. So did the show that year for Best Musical....
Look at the way she lifts her leg....
With all the many people she has met throughout her career, I doubt very much if she would have remembered me.
Besides, simply crossing paths with Chita Rivera, twice, was good enough for me.
And I'm in awe, knowing that she is still on this planet dancing, singing, and inspiring all those who are blessed to encounter her.
I conclude this post with a quote from Steven Holden, the New York Times critic:
“In her every move, she seems to beckon you to throw off your cares and join the procession on Planet Chitah, a place of continual movement, endless fun and pure joy.”
Rock on, Chita!
Have a stellar week, everyone! 💗
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