CHATTIN' WITH CHITA

By popular demand Chita Plus Three is returning to the State Theatre in Cleveland's Playhouse Square for one week from May 17-22. The show is visually exciting, musically dramatic and just plain fun. For reservations call (216) 523-1755.

Chita Rivera has appeared in over 20 Broadway and offBroadway shows. Her first was "Call Me Madam" and her major breakthroughs were "West Side Story," "Bye Bye Birdie" and Ben Bagley's "Shoestring Revue (the former two companies travelled to London).

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Since 1975, Ms. Rivera has taken to the club circuit, launching an explosive start at the N.Y. gay club, Grand Finale where such diverse dignitaries as Leonard Bernstein and John Linday took in her show. In lat 1976 Liza Minnelli and Jack Haley Jr. brought her to California's major gay entertainment club, Studio One where she met with rave reviews. A prominent gay cult figure, Chita Rivera talked with High Gear by phone from her hotel in Dallas where she was performing.

High Gear: Can you tell us about your second show in Cleveland. Will there be new selections?

Chita: The show will pretty much have the same selections. We may add a new number, especially for Cleveland, but we've been on the road the past six weeks and under the circumstances haven't had time to make major changes.

High Gear: Gay people throughout the country comprise one of your staunchest block of fans. What do you think your appeal for gays is?

Chita: I think gays just love to be entertained and especially enjoy, how can I say it, down to earth entertainment. Gay people have traditionally backed the theatre and they've developed a taste for quality. Communication is important too. Gays see the truth, when it's there.

High Gear: Inexpensive stage | entertainment seems to be l making a comeback here. Is this a faddish tribute to nostalgia or can it last?

Chita: Well, I think l Cleveland's approach is courageous and realistic. Actually, it's necessary for other parts of the country, but haven't seen it elsewhere. God knows Dallas needs it. There are so many people who would back the theatre, but can't afford it.

Other big cities' prices are appalling and are exclusing so much of a potential audience. You know, Lily Tomlin has a set ticket price in her contract for college students. Less expensive entertainment is a fabulous idea and hopefully it will spread.

High Gear: How can a city the size of Cleveland encourage live entertainment from national performers? For instance, what brought you to this town?

Chita: We came to Cleveland purely as a booking. We didn't know the State Theatre was being restored. When I first walked in, it looked like a bomb shelter, but there was this feeling that this place will be O.K. I love Cleveland. There's so

many different kinds of people. It's very cosmopolitan and alive, a most appreciative audience It was like almost everyone was starved to be entertained. We're

going to London after Cleveland. Some people, when they ask what my itenerary is, say Cleveland who? But I think it's chic. In fact word of mouth is spreading among entertainers about Cleveland. It's very positive.

High Gear: If we could tap your personal perspectives, do you as an independent, career minded woman entertainer view feminism personally significant?

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Chita: Not really. As far as equal rights, it's necessary. Women should be able to do whatever they want to. I think the

noise the Women's Movement makes is needed, if only to make people aware. But ! love the strength and sensitivity of being a woman.

High Gear: Would you comment on Anita Bryant's campaign against gay rights in Miami and more generally on how you feel about entertainers taking public political stands on specific issues?

Chita: Well, I think the whole Anita Bryant thing is very unfortunate. Let me just say I find the matter disgusting and leave it at that. There was an antiAnita benefit in San Francisco. 1 Iwas invited to attend but couldn't because of scheduling conflicts. My moral support, of course, lies with gay people As for entertainers being political, if they know what they're talking about and feel strongly enough about an issue, then they have every right to voice their opinions.

...

HIGH GEAR/MAY 1977

DISCO

By Van Auh

The place is an inferno. Rancid cigarette smoke hangs tenaciously in the air. Humidity envelops in the air. Humidity envelops gyrating, perspiring bodies. We are all on fire.

And there is music. Sometimes electrifying, but often boring. Most are too stoned to differentiate. Sometimes the music is all there is.

The crowd is unbelievable. I feel lost in the crush. Eyes dart back and forth but never actually focus. They re glossy, and vacant. The emptiness is everywhere.

Like a record on the floor, I am totally anonymous. They do not know who I am. It doesn't matter. Here nothing ends. So it doesn't matter at all.

This is the weekend's diversion: a few hours of oblivion compelled by urgent need and controlled desperation. It is as directionless as the records spinning on the turntable. Around and around and around..

At closing time we'll go home to whatever.

or with

Next weekend we'll do it all over again.

PRISONERS WHO WANT MAIL Frederick Golden No. 145-088,

P.O. Box 787 Lucasville, Ohio 45648

Randy Leitson

2.O. Box 67283 M. 1 Reidsville, Ga. 3053 Ronald Weaver No. 140-863 P.O. Box 69 London, Ohio 43140 Tony Tye No. 143-804 P.O. Box 787 Lucasville, Ohio 45648 Thomas F. Shatzer No. 140-188 P.O. Box 787Lucasville, Ohio 45648 Tony L. Logsdon No. 136-620 P.O. Box 69 London, Ohio 43140 Carleton Rhodes No. 138959 P.O. Box 787 Lucasville, Ohio 45648

FREE V.D. TESTS

The Cleveland Health Department in cooperation with the management of the Club Cleveland and the Club Baths, provides! free and confidential tests for venereal disease. The tests are given! at the baths on Wednesday svenings from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The schedule of future testing is as follows:

THE CLUB CLEVELAND May 11, 1977 May 25, 1977 June 8, 1977 June 22, 1977 July 6, 1977 | July 20, 1977

THE CLUB BATHS May 4, 1977 May 18, 1977 June 1, 1977

Sincerely,

June 15, 1977 June 29, 1977

David Lundberg

Public Health Advisor

July 13, 1977 July 27, 1977

ERIE

Page 25

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