Lynn and Stephen wrote special material for this Broadway musical retrospective of one of the great ladies of the American musical stage.

The show was conceived by Chita and Terrence McNally, written by Terrence,and directed and choreographed by Graciela Daniele. It had its World Premiere at San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre, and moved to Broadway, premiering at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on December 11, 2005.  Ahrens and Flaherty supplied special musical material.

The song “Dancing On The Kitchen Table” celebrates Chita’s family and her beginnings as a dancer. “A Woman the World has Never Seen Before” guides Chita through a tour de force of reminiscences about some of the Kander & Ebb shows she’s starred in. The audience consistently rewarded her with a standing ovation.

TONY NOMINATION
Best actress in a Musical for Chita Rivera
(Her 9th Tony Award Nomination)

Broadway Premiere Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre
December 11, 2005

“The show…takes the audience on a tour through landmark creations of the American musical theatre and also features new songs by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.”

-Broadway.com

“Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty launch Rivera into a throaty career summary à la ‘Rose’s Turn’ from ‘Gypsy’.”

-The Los Angeles Times

Production Gallery

Photos by Paul Kolnik

Show Clips + Video

Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre
Produced by Marty Bell, Aldo Scrofani, Martin Richards, Chase Mishkin and others.

Written by Terrence McNally
Original Songs by: Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
Music orchestrated by Danny Troob
Musical Concepts, Music Director and Music arranged by by Mark Hummel
Featuring songs by Milton Leeds, James Taylor, Irving Berlin, Lawrence Holofcener, Cole Porter, Stephen Sondheim, Lee Adams, Fred Ebb, John Kander, Dorothy Fields, Edward Eliscu, Stella Unger, Victor Young, Alberto Domingues, Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, Leonard Bernstein, Charles Strouse, Cy Coleman, Astor Piazzolla, Billy Rose
Directed and choreographed by Graciela Daniele
Jerome Robbins Choreography Reproduced by: Alan Johnson
Bob Fosse Choreography Reproduced by: Tony Stevens
Scenic Design by Loy Arcenas
Costume Design by Toni-Leslie James
Lighting Design by Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer
Sound Design by Scott Lehrer
Hair Design by David Brian Brown
Executive Producer: Marty Bell and Aldo Scrofani
General Manager: Alan Wasser Associates
Company Manager: Judi Wilfore
Production Stage Manager: Arturo E. Porazzi
Production Manager: Aurora Productions
Stage Manager: Gary Mickelson
Musical Coordinator: Michael Keller
Piano/Conductor: Mark Hummel; Keyboard 2/ Associate Conductor:  Gary Adler
Violin: Entcho Todorov; Cello: Wolfram Koessel
Reeds: Ted Nash and Marc Phaneuf
Lead Trumpet: Jeffrey Kievit; Trumpet: John Chudoba; Trombones/Tuba: Randy Andos
Bass: Jim Donica
Drums: Michael Croiter; Percussion: Bill Hayes
Music Copying: Kaye-Houston Music
Synthesizer Programmer: Andrew Barrett
Biographical Research by: Patrick Pacheco
Press Representative: Barlow-Hartman Public Relations, Rick Miramontez and Jon Dimond Marketing: TMG – The Marketing Group
Casting: Mark Simon
Dance Captain: Madeleine Kelly
Advertising: SPOTCo, Inc.
Photographer: Paul Kolnik
Website Designer: Situation Marketing

CAST
Chita Rivera                 Chita Rivera

Richard Amaro            Ensemble
Lloyd Culbreath           Ensemble
Malinda Farrington     Ensemble
Edgard Gallardo          Ensemble
Deidre Goodwin          Ensemble
Richard Montoya        Ensemble
Liana Ortiz                   Little Chita Rivera/Lisa
Lainie Sakakura           Ensemble
Alex Sanchez               Ensemble
Allyson Tucker            Ensemble

Swings: Cleve Asbury and Madeleine Kelly

Understudies: Richard Amaro (Chita’s West Side Story Partner), Malinda Farrington (Camille, Colette), Edgard Gallardo (Chita’s Father/Tango Partner), Jasmine Perri (Little Chita Rivera/Lisa), Lainie Sakakura (Camille, Colette) and Allyson Tucker (Big Spender Shadow)

Show Credits

Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre
Produced by Marty Bell, Aldo Scrofani, Martin Richards, Chase Mishkin and others.

Written by Terrence McNally
Original Songs by: Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
Music orchestrated by Danny Troob
Musical Concepts, Music Director and Music arranged by by Mark Hummel
Featuring songs by Milton Leeds, James Taylor, Irving Berlin, Lawrence Holofcener, Cole Porter, Stephen Sondheim, Lee Adams, Fred Ebb, John Kander, Dorothy Fields, Edward Eliscu, Stella Unger, Victor Young, Alberto Domingues, Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, Leonard Bernstein, Charles Strouse, Cy Coleman, Astor Piazzolla, Billy Rose
Directed and choreographed by Graciela Daniele
Jerome Robbins Choreography Reproduced by: Alan Johnson
Bob Fosse Choreography Reproduced by: Tony Stevens
Scenic Design by Loy Arcenas
Costume Design by Toni-Leslie James
Lighting Design by Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer
Sound Design by Scott Lehrer
Hair Design by David Brian Brown
Executive Producer: Marty Bell and Aldo Scrofani
General Manager: Alan Wasser Associates
Company Manager: Judi Wilfore
Production Stage Manager: Arturo E. Porazzi
Production Manager: Aurora Productions
Stage Manager: Gary Mickelson
Musical Coordinator: Michael Keller
Piano/Conductor: Mark Hummel; Keyboard 2/ Associate Conductor:  Gary Adler
Violin: Entcho Todorov; Cello: Wolfram Koessel
Reeds: Ted Nash and Marc Phaneuf
Lead Trumpet: Jeffrey Kievit; Trumpet: John Chudoba; Trombones/Tuba: Randy Andos
Bass: Jim Donica
Drums: Michael Croiter; Percussion: Bill Hayes
Music Copying: Kaye-Houston Music
Synthesizer Programmer: Andrew Barrett
Biographical Research by: Patrick Pacheco
Press Representative: Barlow-Hartman Public Relations, Rick Miramontez and Jon Dimond Marketing: TMG – The Marketing Group
Casting: Mark Simon
Dance Captain: Madeleine Kelly
Advertising: SPOTCo, Inc.
Photographer: Paul Kolnik
Website Designer: Situation Marketing

Chita Rivera                  Chita Rivera
Richard Amaro             Ensemble
Lloyd Culbreath            Ensemble
Malinda Farrington     Ensemble
Edgard Gallardo           Ensemble
Deidre Goodwin           Ensemble
Richard Montoya         Ensemble
Liana Ortiz                    Little Chita Rivera/Lisa
Lainie Sakakura           Ensemble
Alex Sanchez               Ensemble
Allyson Tucker             Ensemble

Swings: Cleve Asbury and Madeleine Kelly

Understudies: Richard Amaro (Chita’s West Side Story Partner), Malinda Farrington (Camille, Colette), Edgard Gallardo (Chita’s Father/Tango Partner), Jasmine Perri (Little Chita Rivera/Lisa), Lainie Sakakura (Camille, Colette) and Allyson Tucker (Big Spender Shadow)