Dance Documentary "Transmission: Roots To Branches"

Chita Rivera (L) and Graciela Danielle (R)

Featuring a virtual 'who's who' from the world of dance including Chita Rivera, Graciela Danielle, Andy Blankenbuehler, Warren Carlyle, Susan Stroman and more, the dance documentary Transmission: Roots To Branches does a deep dive into the history, lineage and future progressions of Jazz Dance.

"Don't you feel wonderful when your spirit finally meets your body, and it turns into dance?"

"It's not easy. But anything that's good is not easy."

- Broadway icon Chita Rivera

Featuring interviews and choreography from some of the worlds leading dance voices, Transmission aims to shine a light on Jazz Dance.

The film is still being shot and the creators are looking to raise funds for the next block of filming.

Head over to the official website for more info.

Watch the teaser below. It looks to be a fascinating film.

News Round-Up: January 23, 2017

Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims

Some news items you may have missed:

• Woofy out Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims has re-introduced legislation that would ban so-called ex-gay/conversion therapy. Could we love this guy any more?

• White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer says he doesn't know if President Trump plans to retain or repeal the previous administration's executive order that bans anti-LGBT discrimination among federal contractors in place.

• US intelligence teams are investigating calls between Mike Flynn, President Donald Trump's national security adviser, and Russia's ambassador to the US in regarding Russian activities in the US. Ruh-roh.

• A Texas state lawmaker has filed legislation that would completely remove access to abortion in his state saying it would “force” women to be “more personally responsible” with sex. Seriously?

• Donald Trump is the first president to begin his administration with less than 50% approval rating in Gallup Poll.

• Happy 84th birthday, 2-time Tony Award winner Chita Rivera! I've found the gayest & grooviest dance clip I could to celebrate. Watch below:

News Round-Up: January 17, 2017

Some news items you may have missed:

• The weather forecast for Friday in Washington DC? 90% chance of rain. See forecast above. How terrible... ;)

• Some of Broadway's biggest stars - including Tony Award winners Betty Buckley, Chita Rivera, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Kelli O'Hara, Jessie Mueller and Billy Porter - will be spending Inauguration Day at a concert in New York City that raises money for human rights organizations.

• Over 50 Democratic members of Congress (53 at last count) will not be attending the Trump inauguration.

• Speaking of the inauguration, scalpers are having a tough time unloading tickets they bought for the event this Friday.

• Team Trump is having such a tough time getting supporters to the inaugural festivities they are using targeted Facebook ads to up free ticket attendance.

• One more inauguration item: don't miss Randy Rainbow's hysterical interview with Tony Award winner Jennifer Holliday regarding her recent kerfuffle when she confirmed then cancelled her appearance the "peaceful transfer of power."

"Concert for America: Stand Up, Sing Out!" Starring Tony Award Winners Betty Buckley, Billy Porter, Chita Rivera, Bebe Neuwirth & More

This is all kinds of awesomeness :)

Click here for all the details for Concert for America: Stand Up, Sing Out!, the first of a monthly benefit concert series with Broadway, TV, film and recording stars that will debut at The Town Hall on Friday, January 20, 2017, at 3:00pm.

The concert will feature performances by Betty Buckley, Sharon Gless, Andrea Martin, Jessie Mueller, Bebe Neuwirth, Rosie O'Donnell, Rosie Perez, Billy Porter, Chita Rivera, Brian Stokes Mitchell and more.

Proceeds will benefit several national organizations working to protect human rights, including Planned Parenthood, Southern Poverty Law Center, National Immigration Law Center and the Sierra Club Foundation.

Tickets range from $25 to $50 and are available at TicketMaster.com and at The Town Hall box office (123 W 43rd St.). Participating performers are subject to change.

But here's the best part - if you can't attend, no worries! The concert will be broadcast on Facebook Live at 3:00pm EST on January 20th, directed by Emmy Award winner Debbie Miller.

How super cool is that? So buy your tickets if you'll be in the NYC area on January 20th, or set your calendar to remind you at ten minutes to 3PM EST that day to hit the link and watch your favorite Broadway stars "stand up, and sing out!"

Chita Rivera To Headline At Carnegie Hall "Chita: Nowadays"

Broadway legend and 2-time Tony Award winner (The Rink, Kiss of the Spiderwoman) Chita Rivera will make her solo Carnegie Hall debut November 7 at 8PM with her new show, Chita: Nowadays.

From Playbill:

Directed by Graciela Daniele, the evening promises favorites from Rivera’s career, as well as new material and special collaborations with her guest stars, including Alan Cumming and Andy Karl.

A “very unique version” of “America” from West Side Story is also promised. Michael Croiter will lead a 15-piece band.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to play one of the most prestigious venues in the world, Carnegie Hall. We’re going to have a ball!” Rivera said in a statement.

The evening is produced by Daniel Nardicio. “Chita is a national treasure, musical theater goddess, and as anyone who knows her can attest, one incredible lady,” Nardicio said in a statement. “Once I tackled Carnegie Hall with Alan Cumming and we nailed it with a sold-out show, speaking with friend, and Chita’s music director, Michael Croiter we came up with the idea to honor Chita’s career in a huge celebration.”

Head over to ChitaInConcert.com for more details.

Friday Flashback: Ann Reinking, Donna McKechnie & Chita Rivera perform "Let Me Entertain You"

From the 1987 TV special "Broadway Sings: The Music of Jule Styne" - Tony Award winners Ann Reinking, Donna McKechnie and Chita Rivera, perform "Let Me Entertain You" from Gypsy.

I've been a fan of all three practically my whole life. It still amazes me I worked with all three.

Broadway's Chita Rivera On The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon

Chita Rivera dropped by The Tonight Show to chat on Jimmy Fallon about her Tony Award-nominated performance in THE VISIT  plus her love of The Walking Dead which she would LOVE to guest star on.

Chita charmingly asks Fallon if anyone had ever "eaten his face." And that's how we segue into Walking Dead.

Cute moment. Love seeing Chita get the attention she deserves.

Watch below:

And here, the divine Miss Rivera teaches Jimmy some Fosse moves:

Chita Rivera Is Back On Broadway At 82

What becomes a legend most?

For this legend, it's a Broadway theater. Where she belongs.

At 82, Chita Rivera is back on #Broadway, starring in the Kander and Ebb musical “The Visit” http://t.co/3i5AFsgcxP pic.twitter.com/v9IvNOk8P3

— NYT Theater (@nytimestheater) April 9, 2015

Donna McKechnie Joins Broadway Cast of THE VISIT

Tony Award-winner Donna McKechnie has been announced as standby for another legend, Chita Rivera, in the upcoming Broadway musical, The Visit.

"Who else could go on for a Broadway legend like Ms. Rivera but another Broadway legend?" said producer Tom Kirdahy in a statement. "The tradition of an actor standing by, should the star not be able to perform, though unlikely in Ms. Rivera's case, has been turned on its ear by this news. We are ecstatic that Donna is joining our company."

She will stand by for the 82-year-old Rivera, who plays Claire Zachanassian, a wealthy courtesan who returns to the small village where she grew up, in order to destroy the man who robbed her of her virtue when she was a girl.

Based on the 1958 drama of the same title by Swiss author Friedrich Dürrenmatt, The Visit musical has a score by John Kander and the late Fred Ebb, and a book by Terrence McNally. Choreography for the two legendary dancers will be supplied by Graciela Daniele.

How thrilled I am that these two Broadway icons become part of this new musical for Broadway. I had the opportunity to work with both for long periods of time. My first national touring company of A Chorus Line starred Donna; and early in my CHICAGO the Musical journey I worked with Chita when she was playing "Roxie Hart" in the Las Vegas leg of the national tour.

Love them both. As does everyone.

It's not well known, but back in the 1990s the producers of the musical The Goodbye Girl (starring Martin Short and Bernadette Peters) were in talks with Donna to standby for Bernadette. Unfortunately the show closed before the deal was done, but the same logic was in play there: who better to go on for a Broadway legend than another Broadway legend?

With Chita Rivera backstage at CHICAGO the Musical

Backstage at an all-star benefit where I helped choreograph a number for Donna McKechnie

Chita Rivera raises over $400K in one night for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS

A sizzling evening of song and dance honoring and starring theatrical icon Chita Rivera raised a remarkable $413,660 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

A sold-out crowd filled Broadway's August Wilson Theatre with applause and six standing ovations throughout the evening Monday night, as they cheered Rivera, a Broadway legend who turned 80 earlier this year.

Over two hours onstage and backed by a 15-piece onstage orchestra, Rivera recreated some of her most iconic performances from 10 of her Broadway musicals including West Side Story, Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman,The Rink and Sweet Charity.

An emotional Rivera expressed her gratitude to the audience saying, "I've lost so many of my friends to AIDS, thank you for coming, for caring, for sharing, for giving, because Broadway Cares really needs you and we must never forget that."

Chita: A Legendary Celebration was directed by Graciela Daniele and written by Terrence McNally with music direction byMichael Croiter. The evening was produced by and benefitted Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

(via BroadwayWorld)