Photo Flash: Terrence McNally, Alan Cumming, and More Attend CHITA'S BACK! at Birdland

There was a happening on West 44th Street! For a week, Chita Rivera brought her joyful, razzle-dazzling nightclub act to Birdland, which she calls her favorite room in the city. "These walls are filled with the best music! Playing Birdland just makes me feel cool," she proclaimed. As if her iconic Broadway career wasn't cool enough, "Chita's Back" was a concert for the history books - with the ever-youthful legend in fine fettle; singing, dancing and telling some of the best insider stories any theater-lover could hope for. Material from Bye Bye Birdie, Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman, West Side Story and The Visitwere included, as well as a James Taylor duet with daughter, Lisa Mordente. The swinging was band led by guitarist/percussionist Michael Croiter, with Michael Patrick Walker on piano, Jim Donica on bass, and Dan Willis on saxophone.

All week, celebs and fans lined up at the historic jazz room to cheer Chita. Alan Cumming, Christie Brinkley, David Zippel, John Kander, Terrence McNalley, Amra-Faye Wright, Julie Wilson, Joe Tremaine, Neile Adams, Lilias White, Lucie Arnaz, David Garrison, Jason Daniely, Marin Mazzie, Roger Rees, Everett Bradley, Vivian Reed, Erich Bergen, Joey Taranto, Max von Essen, Daniel Rowan, Mark MacKillip, Holt McCallany, Matthew Deming, Ryan Lowe, Danny Aiello, Lisa Lambert, John West, Leigh Ann Larkin, Alex Ringler, along with hundreds more showed up to worship at the shrine of Rivera!

Birdland is located at 315 West 44 Street in the heart of the Theater District in NYC. For more information, visit www.BirdlandJazz.

Photo credit: Kevin Alvey

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