January 11, 2006 |
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CHITA: "Rita, what are you doing at my show?"
RITA: "Oh, I'll be doing the movie version of 'Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life,' darling. I'll probably win another Oscar. You can present it."
CHITA: "I'd sooner die."
RITA: "You probably will." They both hiss.
THEATER BUFFS will recognize the above as my own re-write of one of the funniest "Forbidden Broadway" acts ever - created by Gerald Alessandrini - about the legendary and probably apocryphal feud between Chita Rivera and Rita Moreno. The "feud" was created when Chita originated the fiery Anita in "West Side Story" back in 1957. The role would establish her as a Broadway star. But when it came time to make the movie version, Rita Moreno was cast as Anita. She won fame and the Oscar. The fact that both girls were of Puerto Rican heritage only lathered the fuss. (By the by, I have been told that a new version of the show-stopping "America" will go into Chita's wonderful Broadway show this very week.)
So, last Sunday, it was planned that Rita appear backstage, surprise Chita and bury the hatchet. Well, let me say there was no hatchet to bury. And there was no surprise. Rita's presence in the SRO audience at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre caused such a frenzy that Chita and the entire company knew what was happening. Rita was heard telling producer Marty Bell, "Chita is now the queen of musical theater. She has picked up where Gwen Verdon left off."
The dazzling pair of American-Latino legends met in Chita's dressing room and both collapsed into laughter and tears, hugs and kisses. The entire cast came in one by one. Chita's daughter, Lisa Mordente, was on hand, as were Chita's brothers. Everyone got a photo taken by Broadway Bruce, including Chita's Maltese pup, Casper.
Later, Chita ran off to the closing night party of "Fiddler on the Roof." She said, "I have to hurry because I want to get there before Rosie O'Donnell shaves off Harvey Fierstein's beard. He can't wait to get rid of it!"
Rita and her hubby, Dr. Leonard Cohen, went on to Orso for dinner. "I was so moved by the show. I could only think of all the struggles Chita has survived with grace and elegance. She deserves to be the queen of musical theater." Upstairs at Bar Centrale, Joe Allen, once a beau of Chita's, listened to the gossip and said, "What feud?"
FANS of the late, much lamented "Six Feet Under" sorely miss sexy Jeremy Sisto, who played Billy, the over-or-under medicated brother of Rachel Griffiths. (The almost incestuous relationship between brother and sister was a constant source of nail-biting tension during the series run - would they or wouldn't they?) Well, rejoice fans, Sisto is making a return to the tube.
Over the past few months, Sony Pictures Television has been quietly shooting a drama for NBC called "Kidnapped." Sisto stars as an expert in retrieving kidnap victims. (This will no doubt be in the current "CSI," "Without a Trace," Cold Case," etc., crime drama vein. Apparently, we can't get enough of these!) Jason Smilovic has penned the pilot and Ken Topolsky produces. Joining Jeremy in the first episode will be Timothy Hutton and Dana Delany, who play the parents of a kidnapped teenager.
IF YOU can't have dinner, have dessert! That was Lindsay Lohan's motto the other night at Serendipity 3. The actress - a knockout in tight jeans and equally clingy black top - and two pals arrived at the restaurant at 1 a.m. She requested a dinner menu. But by then the kitchen was closed. Did she fuss? Did she demand a hot meal by whatever means? Did she attempt to cajole the management with her star clout? Nope. She happily settled on a "Strawberry Fields" sundae, a "Forbidden Broadway" sundae and a pot of tea.
Lohan also ordered a banana shake and a black-and-white shake to go. Said it was for her mom, Dina.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY's resolution for 2006 is to entertain with a purpose. To that end, starting at the magazine's 15th annual Sundance fete, EW will honor performers for their art and their charitable/humanitarian efforts. They kick-off, suitably, with Robert Redford, long associated with the Sundance Film Festival. He is an "Entertainer With a Mission."
But EW's not getting too serious. They will host the hottest party at the festival on Jan. 21, at The Shop. This one usually melts the ski slopes.
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE the power of the afterlife or in the current life of public figures. Barbara Walters' two recent specials "The Ten Most Fascinating People of 2005" and "Heaven: Where is It and How Do We Get There?" were the highest-rated primetime news specials of the season. Miss Walters, who recently took off for Chile, "just for fun," hasn't lost her touch. She also looks simply amazing these days.
(E-mail Liz Smith at MES3838@aol.com, or write to her c/o Tribune Media Services, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY 14207.)
©2006 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
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