BWW Interviews: CHITA RIVERA Talks A LEGENDARY CELEBRATION

CHITA RIVERA is coming to McGlohon Theater at Spirit Square on February 22, for a one-night unique and intimate solo concert to celebrate her 80th Birthday! The two-time Tony Award winner will recreate signature moments from her legendary career including numbers from West Side Story; Sweet Charity; Chicago; Kiss of the Spider Woman; Bye, Bye, Birdie and The Rink. She will also perform numbers from her upcoming Broadway show The Visit. In addition to a special tribute to her dear friends John Kander & Fred Ebb, the timeless music of Leonard Bernstein, Charles Strouse, Jerry Herman and Stephen Sondheim will also be featured, with live orchestral accompaniment. Presented by Blumenthal Performing Arts. Tickets are on sale at Blumenthal Performing Arts Box Office: 704-372-1000 and BlumenthalArts.org.

I have always been in awe of the incredible talent and persona of Chita Rivera. I caught up with her as she was preparing for her upcoming show, A LEGENDARY CELEBRATION. A passionate, no nonsense woman, Rivera's enthusiasm for this industry continues. She was a pleasure to interview.

LAW: Happy Birthday! Where are you now?

CR: Thank you. I'm in New York and it is sooo cold here.

LAW: How did a solo show celebrating your 80th Birthday come about?

CR: Well, somebody mentioned it and it came to be.

LAW: What can the audience expect?

CR: Songs and stories. 'Give 'em what you have. 'Highlights of the shows I've been in and my upcoming show, The Visit.

LAW: What are your favorite moments in this show?

CR: 'Hard to say,.... I love Kiss of the Spider Woman and Westside Story, Leonard Bernstein. It's an evening. I'm so lucky. It's a blessing to be sharing moments.

LAW: Tell me about your relationship with Kander and Ebb [composer and lyricist, Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman and The Visit].

CR: It's been long. If I didn't meet them, I don't know where I would be. And Terrence McNally [playwright]. They are all dear friends and great talents. Fred [Ebb] is gone now. I miss him.

LAW: What has been your most memorable moment on stage for you?

CR: (Laughs) I'd have to say, being on stage with John Lindsay [NYC Mayor]. He was a lot of fun.... Antonio Banderas and Donald O'Conner. Oh so many....

LAW: Has the business of Broadway changed since you started to now?

CR: It always changes. It's gone through a musical phase with Motown and other things,...big productions, all working together. I think there should be more storytelling with a great story.

LAW: I don't think I've ever seen a performer as versatile as you. Did you start out acting, singing or dancing?

CR: Dancing.... Absolutely dancing! Everybody should dance.

LAW: How do you prepare before a performance?

CR: I come in two hours early for quiet time and to be in the environment. I stretch. And my door is always open. When you work with people on a show, it's a family. I know it's said many times, but it's true.... It's a family thing.

LAW: You have received so many prestigious awards and honors, which one has stood out as the most memorable?

CR: Each moment, every award has its own importance. The Kennedy Center, the Tony Awards, one never expects those things in life.

LAW: What makes you the happiest?

CR: My family, to laugh and great friends. I love what I do.

LAW: What has been your best experience on the road?

CR: 'To take family on the road with me. I took my mom on the road. It was such a great experience. 'To see friends,... and I don't have to make my own bed. 'To phone to get a cup of tea and relax. It's a good thing.

LAW: And what was your worst experience on the road?

CR: I was so sick with a cold. I couldn't do a performance. And I'm not known for canceling. One time, my knee dislodged during a performance. That was very painful.... The worst though, I think,... was being on tour in Chicago on 9/11.

LAW: What are your plans after this solo performance?

CR: I am preparing to open in The Visit at the Lyceum Theatre in April.

LAW: Tell me about The Visit.

CR: It's a European play from 30 years ago. It centers on a woman, who is chased out of town and her love for a man. It's a play about morals, greed and love.

LAW: What's the best advice you can give a new actor coming up?

CR: Study! Be honest with yourself. Don't take yourself too seriously. Respect, enjoy, and totally entertain!