Vale Chita Rivera – One of the greatest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, and one of the most magnificent performers I have ever witnessed. The way Chita held a room with her electric presence was something to behold. I first met Chita on an Atlantis cruise. I knew she was on board and invited her to my show. I didn’t hear back that she was coming, but after the show, she came backstage to say hello and gave me the warmest hug and the most affirming compliments. That night we sat in the Molecular Bar and drank a fancy ginger cocktail together. Each night of the cruise, we would meet in that bar and try a different elaborate cocktail from the menu. At the time, she was 78 and I was on the eve of 30. I had consumed so many hours (foolishly) worrying about getting older; seeing Chita perform and spending that time with her dissolved all of my fears. If that is what 78 looked like, there were only great things to look forward to. I had the pleasure of seeing Chita perform many times, and spending many hours basking in her presence, she was so generous with her time. She would give me challenges as a performer. “Next time you do that number, you should try to stand completely still. Bring all the emotion through your voice and face, but don’t move your body.” The next time she came to see me perform at The Laurie Beechman in NYC, I did just what she told me. After the show, she came up to me, “You did it, kiddo!”. Sitting here writing this, reflecting on her, reminds me what a wonderful, joyous, inspiring human being Chita Rivera was. I feel so lucky to have had so much time with her and am forever changed as a human and a performer from knowing her. Today, I will have her album “And Now I Swing” on repeat. I love you, Chita. Thank you for all the joy you have brought to this world. You left it a better place than you found it.