Among Buffalo’s theaters, only Shea’s Performing Arts Center has the ability to bring a show like Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life. Chita has been to Buffalo before, but in the audience. She came to see her daughter, Lisa Mordente in the 1978 production of Platinum at Studio Arena Theatre. Then, when a national tour of Kiss of the Spider Woman went out on the road and the first stop was Buffalo, Chita attended the opening performance at Shea’s. I will always remember how she graciously greeted the Argentine actress who played the role she herself had created, and how Chita coached the young star in how to maneuver her hat more precisely during the “Where You Are” sequence.

Artvoice will present Buffalo’s local theater awards, the “Arties,” at the Town Ballroom on Monday evening June 4, 2007. The event will be a benefit for Benedict House, which provides residential and support services for individuals living with AIDS. To be eligible for an Artie, an artist must live and work in the Buffalo area. Likewise, a theater must produce work locally, primarily with local artists. The doors open at 7:30pm and the ceremony begins at 8pm. The event will be hosted by Artvoice Theater Editor Anthony Chase, actor Norm Sham and actress Loraine O’Donnell of WKBW Channel 7’s PM Buffalo.