Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life, tour (2007)
Cast:Chita Rivera and an amazing ensemble
For complete info, see the official Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life website.
This show had been in LA and then San Diego before it went to Broadway and I missed it there. However, my aunt (wise beyond her years) caught it near the end of the run in San Diego and told me I HAD to see it. I tried when I was in NYC, but with my sister there, I wasn't sure she'd be interested in a show on dance. Now that I've seen it, I think anyone who loves Broadway theatre and/or dancing would love this snow, but I didn't know it at the time.
Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life is an amazing show. Catch it at a theatre near you if you can. If you enjoy dancing and/or musical theatre, it's an amazing retrospective of dance in theatre throughout her years in the theatre. The second Chita Rivera appeared on the stage, I thought, "Wow - I'd LOVE to look that good now." Considering the fact that she's 74 (I had to look it up online and I'm amazed that she's in such great shape) and I'm only 33, this is a bit of a sad statement for me. However, if you saw her in person, you would understand that she still has an absolutely amazing body and that same wonderful voice.
Before seeing this show, I didn't know much of what to expect. I didn't ask Tricia much about it, since I wanted to enjoy it for myself and (since we're alike in that way), she totally understood. I thought that perhaps it was a one-woman show. I was wrong and I'm so glad I was wrong. The ensemble in Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life is amazing! They're all wonderful dancers and singers and do such a great job.
I won't say too much about the structure of the show other than to say that Chita Rivera does some numbers herself and some with members of the ensemble. She narrates in between songs and sings parts of many wonderful songs from the shows she's done throughout her amazing career. If you like theatre and/or dance, you must get to a performance of Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life. If it comes out on DVD, I'll definitely own it. Then, my husband (a musical theatre fan, but not as fond of shows that are just dance) will get to see it. I went with a friend who loves dance and she enjoyed it, but I know that David will enjoy it, too. I really hope it's been recorded for PBS, since they always end up releasing the shows on DVD at some point and Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life really should be preserved forever.
Grade: ALabels: 2007, Chita Rivera, dancing, musical, tour