Chita Rivera show will be a gala affair

Kansas City Star

April 12, 2008

A ctress Chita Rivera made Broadway history when she played the first Anita in 'West Side Story' in 1957.

She later went on to star in 'Bye Bye Birdie' opposite Dick Van Dyke.

Now the Kansas City Repertory Theatre is hoping some of Rivera's magic will invigorate this year's Kansas City Rep Gala, which will be April 28 at the Spencer Theatre.

'I really feel like this event with Chita Rivera is kicking off a whole new era with the Rep,' said Dan Walsh, a member of the planning committee for the gala, which is the annual fundraising event for the theater.

'She is bringing her New York cabaret show to Kansas City for this event, and it got wonderful reviews there,' Walsh said. 'For us to land talent like Chita, it will make this evening really special.'

In addition, the Rep's new artistic director, Eric Rosen, has stepped up to help make the gala a success. At the kickoff party for the gala last month, Rosen committed to being a row host for the event. The Rep gala committee asks its supporters to sponsor a row at the theater, filling it with family and friends.

Rosen is doing just that, bringing family and friends from Chicago to see the show and experience Kansas City's Repertory Theatre for the first time.

The Rep scored another coup when supporter Ann Dickinson agreed to host the post-performance patrons' party at her historic Ward Parkway home, where guests will have an opportunity to mingle with Rivera.

Annette and Mark Ernst stepped up to be the honorary chaircouple of the gala, co-chaired this year by Lili Shank and Myra Siegel. Major sponsors of the gala include DST and the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation.

'We have a new artistic director, a new space (downtown), and now major entertainment for the gala,' Walsh said. 'We are hoping to sell out the evening.'

The gala raises funds for the Rep's educational programs such as Rep on the Road and Living Drama. With these programs, artists go into classrooms in the Kansas City area, elementary through high school, and create theater programs customized for each age group.

This year more than 10,000 students will be involved in these programs, said Laura Muir, communications director for the Rep. Gala funds also go toward supporting artistic excellence at the Rep, she said.

The Rep gala is different from other fundraisers in town because 'it's not dinner in a hotel ballroom,' Muir said.

'We want to share that live theater experience with our supporters,' she said. 'And all of the stars that we have brought in for the gala have had a connection with theater, such as Lily Tomlin, James Earl Jones and Lynn Redgrave.'

Muir said that although some people may have not heard of Rivera, she is going to be an amazing guest.

'Once they get in here, they are just going to be blown out of their seats by Chita's performance,' Muir said.

Gala organizers are hoping for a crowd of more than 600 guests at the theater, which is on the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus in the Performing Arts Center.

For gala tickets, which begin at $150 and go up depending on patron levels, call 816-235-1465.

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