Artvoice: Buffalo's #1 Newsweekly
Home Blogs Web Features Calendar Listings Artvoice TV Real Estate Classifieds Contact
Previous story: Chita Rivera: The Real Thing
Next story: Aspects of a Live Chita Rivera Performance to Treasure

Moments of Pure Tingling Magic in "Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life"

• Chita’s first entrance in silhouette.

• Chita’s second entrance in the light.

• After two tries, Chita finally nails “A Boy Like That,” recreating her successful audition for West Side Story.

• Chita performs “America” and “Dance at the Gym” from West Side Story, with the cast of The Dancer’s Life.

• The way Chita looks to the spotlight during “Nowadays” and sings “In 50 years or so, it’s gonna change you know” to the pointedly absent Gwen Verdon.

• Chita’s quick impersonations. She has Gwen Verdon’s quavering voice down to perfection. She also does a great Marilyn Monroe, a good Stritch and a good Peter Gennaro, (Upon request, she does a convincing Tony Mordente.)

• Chita opens the second act by dancing a sexy tango sequence opposite sexy Richard Amaro.

• Chita gives a master class on the styles of great choreographers she has known: Jack Cole, Peter Gennaro, Bob Fosse and Jerome Robbins.

• Chita sings “Class” from Chicago, “Chief Cook and Bottle Washer” from The Rink, and the title song from The Kiss of the Spider Woman all in quick succession.

• After teasing us all night, Chita finally sings her signature song, “All That Jazz” in the final moments of the show.