JULY 1980 HIGH GEAR PAGE 11
Chita continues love affair with Cleveland
By Ray Chesnick, Jr. Chita Rivera: (cheta rivera) n. 1: a name well-known to those acquainted with the Broadway stage, show-stopping dancing, and live nightclub entertainment
2: a cause of goosebumps, spine
tingles, and fond memories; dynamic dancer, entertainer, beautiful person.
was certainly a night to be remembered. Over 2400 die-hard Chita fans gåve such a reception to the new show that it is hard to imagine a more enthusiastic crowd for any other event.
For those who had seen Chita
Plus 3, the act that had appeared
here last, this new show took on a.
different dimension. This show
was more mellow and allowed
Chita to demonstrate her vocal capabilities better. Her style of entertainment is perfect for communicating the great warmth and love she possesses. Her interpretations of the ballads
Cleveland trademark song, was done as an encore to the delight of all attending. "Trash" is a song about just that TRASH!! Chita performs this song in very few cities, but did sing it in Cleveland since, as Chita said, "Cleveland is one place that understands
this song because they have plenty of it and I love it!"
fun. We really have been looking forward to this."
Vince Los, owner of Exedra said that the evening was quite a success for Exedra, The Palace and Cleveland. "We at Exedra are proud, once again," said Vince, "to bring something to Cleveland
that is normally reserved for New
York, San Francisco, and Chicago."
apparent throughout the entire Show-stopping dancing was The remaining performances. show in such songs as "I Go Today's closing with a primarily gay at The Palace built up to SunRio." "America/And All That audience, most of whom had Jazz." "Old Fashioned Strut," varied songs were fit together to and "Can't Stop Dancin'." The
The week of June 2nd marked the return of Chita Rivera to the Cleveland area after an absence of over 18 months. This dynamic and versatile performer considers Cleveland to be one of her two favorite places to entertain. "Isn't This Better," "Gee, How make the act flow smoothly and operation of The Playhouse
Audience reception and the genuine respect and attention given to an entertainer by Clevelanders is second only to that given in London.
Chita arrived in Cleveland on
June 2nd for her week-long appearance at The Palace Theatre. A group of fans met her flight and gave a hearty "Welcome Back to this great city. Chita's entourage, consisting of Chita, her two dancers, manager. sound and light designer, secretary, musical director, and drummer, were impressed by this greeting and knew that their week would once again be fun-filled.
Lucky Can You Get," and "Mama A Rainbow" brought tears to the eyes Having heard this rendition! of "Gee, How Lucky Can You Get" prompts one to wonder why another performer's version was ever recorded and marketed Chita's was done at a slow tempo and with such emotion that one was finally able to understand the lyrics and the meaning of the entire song. Three elements of dance, the grace, the beauty and the ease, were expounded to four in a song called "Pain" which brought everyone to hysterics and hand-destroying applause at the song's end when Chita and
her two dancers did a dance rouOpening night at The Palace tine on crutches. "Trash," Chita's
Miss Rivera's conversation with
and talk to the audience kept the large house involved in all the action
Chita and her two dancers,
seen the show at least one other time in the week (with the co-
Square Foundation, The Gear Foundation was able to offer members of the gay community a discount coupon entitling two tickets to see Chita for the price of one. The response to this offer formers have ever received the was encouraging). Few pertype of response that was evident
"gang." It's no wonder Chita said, look forward to playing here. "We love Cleveland. We always those audiences do a performer's heart good that's real love they're giving. We'll really miss them. Until the next time...
Michael Serrecchia and Lee Mathis, worked well together and presented a dynamite team that took one's breath away. The energy burned-off on stage was overwhelming and one almost left the theatre feeling tired. But the type of entertainment was such that it actually lifted the spirit, put a smile on the face, and created a warm inner glow that "made you wanna' boogie all warming for Chita and her Chita Rivera and Mr. Tiffany Jones
night."
Following the opening at The Palace, the "Chita Rivera LookA-Like Contest" was staged at Exedra (a popular Cleveland disco) featuring Miss Tiffany Jones as emcee. Tiffany did a great job, as usual, of entertaining and emceeing. Miss Rivera and Ted Hook, a New York friend of the entertainer's, who had flown into Cleveland for this contest, judged 15 contestants based on looks, performance of a musical selection, or both. The festivities were enjoyed by a crowd of about 600. "I absolutely loved it! It was a ball... it's an honor that Cleveland did this for me," said Chita,."... we all had
on closing night stomping. and to the extent that Chita. clapping, whistling, hollering received; at one time a non-stop. "having a good time" hooting las-
ted over seven minutes.
This entire weekend was truly.. overwhelming and heart-
Lee and Michael
CHT
Ray Chesnick and Chita Rivera
GODMOTHER'S D
Come to Nancy's
Birthday Party..
Saturday, July 26, 1980
Happy Hours 4-8 P.M. Tuesday thru Sunday
Jones-Russell
Located in the PLAYHOUSE SQ. AREA
Florist DOWNTOWN
EAST WEST & SUBURBAN DELIVERY
ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS HONORED BY PHONE *****FLOWERS
TELEGRAPHED ANYWHERE
One of Downtown's Largest Selections of Plants,
Dried Materials, Terrariums And Flowers.
SANDY BLOCH
FLORISTS
TELEGRAPH
FTD
AMERICAN
CARON
DELIVERY
WORLDWIDE
621-8545
1505 EUCLID AVE:
DINERS
e
VISA
1014 F. 63rd STREET. DEM NOCIDA COM CLEVELAND
ontro:qob sonsupse A
ns elluginem Vile 65' bee iti fundam