Chita: A Legendary Celebration

Chita: A Legendary Celebration

On Stage at Kingsborough

Kingsborough Community College

November 19, 2016

Photo courtesy of Chita: A Legendary Celebration

Chita Rivera performed her cabaret act, Chita: A Legendary Celebration, at On Stage at Kingsborough this past weekend.  The show included songs from West Side Story, Chicago, Bye Bye Birdie, The Rink, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and The Visit.  She told stories about her friends Leonard Bernstein, Bob Fosse, Gwen Verdon, John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Cy Coleman.  She was energetic, personable, and, as the title states, legendary.

Photo courtesy of Chita: A Legendary Celebration

As she says in one of her personal stories, if you can stand up in the morning after putting one foot on the floor followed by the other, you still have time left and need to spend it wisely.  She certainly lives up to that advice.  In this version of the act she is on stage alone for one hour and fifteen minutes of sheer pleasure (for her) and joy (for the audience).  Chita has been performing this act in a variety of locations and venues.  I highly recommend that you take advantage of any upcoming opportunity to see her perform live.  She will inspire you as she takes you back to, as she calls it, the “golden years” of Broadway.

Photo courtesy of On stage at Kingsborough

Also be sure to check out the 2016-17 season at On Stage at Kingsborough, located in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn.  They offer affordable ticket prices and free parking to high quality shows for the entire family (toddlers to seniors) including, theatre, cabaret, dance, and music concerts.

Domenick Danza

The Pianist of Willesden Lane

The Pianist of Willesden Lane

On Stage at Kingsborough

Kingsborough Community College

November 8, 2015

Photo courtesy of On Stage at Kingsborough

This past weekend, On Stage at Kingsborough presented The Pianist of Willesden Lane.  This one woman show is “a memoir of music, love, and survival” in which Mona Golabek shares the story of her mother’s journey as a refugee during the Nazi rise to power.  The show is warm, touching, and inspiring.

Photo courtesy of The Pianist of Willesden Lane

Lisa Jura is a young piano student in Vienna.  As the Nazi regime begins to gain power, her father wins a ticket on the kindertransport in a card game.  This was a train for children to escape to London from at risk territories.  She promises her mother she will continue to study her piano.  Her mother promises to be present with her through her music.  The story is punctuated with pieces by Chopin, Debussy, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, and Grieg all played live by concert pianist and storyteller, Mona Golabek.  Her presence, pace, and tone are captivating, and superseded only by her skill as a concert pianist.

Photo courtesy of
The Children of Willesden Lane

The production is simply done with projections and soundscapes that enhance the emotional impact of the story.  The production is touring the U.S. and will be performing in London this winter.  It is based on the book The Children of Willesden Lane.  I bought an autographed copy of the book after the show.  Check out the book and see where else this production is playing.

I have said it before and I will say it again, if you live in south Brooklyn and are interested in inexpensive tickets to high quality performances, I highly recommend checking out On Stage at Kingsborough this season.  Located on the campus of Kingsborough Community College, parking is free and accessible.  I am looking forward to their upcoming presentation of Songs My Mother Taught Me, the cabaret act starring Lorna Luft on Saturday, November 21.

Domenick Danza

Tap City

Tap City

On Stage at Kingsborough

Kingsborough Community College

October 2, 2015

Photo courtesy of On Stage at Kingsborough

On Stage at Kingsborough kicked off its 2015-16 season on October 2 with Tap City: The Best of the New York City Tap Festival.  It was a relatively short concert (about ninety minutes total, including intermission) that left me wanting more.  The ensemble was diverse, charming, and full of energy.  They skillfully performed a variety of tap dance styles.  This was a great way for On Stage at Kingsborough to start their season that consistently offers a wide range of entertainment for audiences from six to sixty.

The Ensemble of Tap City
Photos Courtesy of On Stage at Kingsborough

Tony Waag, The American Tap Dance Foundation’s Artistic Director, served as Master of Ceremonies for the evening.  All the music was performed live by a trio of piano, bass, and drums.  The program included the rhythm tap of choreographer and master teacher Brenda Bufalino, two Honi Coles classics, and a “Tribute to Musical Ladies of Hollywood” (Ruby Keeler, Ginger Rogers, Ann Miller, Eleanor Powell).  Christopher Broughton was sharp in his “Tribute to Gregory Hines”, capturing his unique style and effervescent energy.  Kazu Kumagai was mesmerizing in his piece “Human Nature”, choreographed in a style similar to that of Savion Glover.  Body percussionist Max Pollak was fascinating in his unique solo that included audience participation.

“The American Tap Dance Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to establishing and legitimizing Tap Dance as a vital component of American Dance through creation, presentation, education, and preservation.”  Tony Waag stated at the beginning of the performance that he wanted the audience to experience the wide range of tap styles that exist.  The evening was successful on all accounts.

If you live in south Brooklyn and are interested in inexpensive tickets to high quality performances, I highly recommend checking out On Stage at Kingsborough this season.  Located on the campus of Kingsborough Community College, parking is free and accessible.  The shows are appropriate for children, families, and seniors.  Do as I do, take your mother and have an enjoyable evening out.

Domenick Danza