FOLLOWING ChitaRivera She's been nominated for eightTany awards fwinning twice) and in 2AAZ received the Kennedy Center's life- time achievement honor.</p><p> She'll live forever in theater history far her roles in the original st Side Story and Chicaga.</p><p> So it's no surprise that on January 23,Rivera spent herT3rd birthday right where she belongs: on Sroadway, in Chita Rivera: The Dancels Life,with its book byTer- rence McNally.</p><p> Rivera scoffs at the idea of Broadway musicals*and thus her caree ithout the input of gay people. "Oh, please," she says with a laugh, "lt's insane to imagine the world without thern," -MichaelGiltz In your show you talk about choreog- raphers like Jack Cole, who did such shows as A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and films such as Gentlemen Prefer BIondes.You were good friends with Cole and his paruner.</p><p> That's why l'm so happy to speak about him.</p><p> Jack Cole was one of the most fascinating people you could meet in the entire world.</p><p> Nobody made Marilyn Mon- roe or Jane Russell or Gwen Verdonmore female than he did.</p><p> This man was male and female-he was everything.</p><p> I really think to be a full person, everyone should be.</p><p> You've got to be it all, You certainly cut a strong figure in your cameo for the movie Chicago.</p><p> I thought I looked like Cher in dragl lf there is such a thing.</p><p> God, was that fun.</p><p> IDirector] Rob Marshall is one of my best friends.</p><p> When he took me around the set, I was ready to justjump in there.</p><p> I was ready to tel I Catherine Zeta- Jones she had an appointment.</p><p> In Egypt.</p><p> You worked with Jerome Robbins- a stern taskmaster, even for a choreog- rapner.</p><p> He was hard; he was difficult.</p><p> A lot of people hated him.</p><p> Everybody tried desperately for me to say some- thing shitty about him, excuse the ex- pression. lLaughsl But I won't.</p><p> Any- body that ever worked for him, hemade them better.</p><p> And that's what you're there for.</p><p> To get better.</p><p> And it doesn't get better than Kander and Ebb, who you collaborated with on Chicago, Kiss of the SpiderWoman, and The Rink.</p><p> They were my honeys, my sweet- hearts.</p><p> At this age in his life, John [Kan- derl is just gorgeous.</p><p> You can see that spirit in him coming through his eyes.</p><p> Any chance of lhe Visit-their last col- laboration to makeit to the stage be- fore Fred Ebb died- still making it to Broadway? Well, that's what we hope we'll get to do.</p><p> Iln lhe Dancels Lifel I did one of the songs, "Love and Love Alone." It's a wrencher-it's so smart, it's so passionate, it's so simple. [She starts to recite the lyricsl "When you're young / Feeling oh so strong / What can prove you wrong? / Love and love alone / When the sun / Seems forever bright / What can dim its light? /Love and love alone, I So beware young love / Lost in a kiss / There's a truth, young love / Simple as this / Every fond hello ends in goodbye / What we're certain will live / Will die." It's gorgeous, Gor- geous! And Freddie used to say he hated writing bal- lads.</p><p> And I used to slap him. llaughs] As well you should.</p><p> As well I should! And l'm the only one who could.</p><p> I miss my Freddie desperately.</p><p> He's my brother.</p><p> I THE ADVOCATE www.aov0cate.com February I4,2006 | 29
