Ann Reinking

[Lorelai]

Posted: 9/26/05 at 1:33pm

I was told by someone that the wonderful Ms. Reinking is not well (with athritis, I believe) and have moved to Arizona...is this true?

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/26/05 at 1:55pm

God, I hope not!

Donna McKechnie has suffered greatly for years, as she talks about in her one-woman show.

To me it's SO not fair... that our treasured dancers who have given so much to audiences by testing the limits of their bodies should end up with such a debilitiating disease.

Please, someone out there---say it ain't so!!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 9/26/05 at 1:57pm

Well she's had a lot of health problems (I think it's her back, but I could be wrong) that kept her out of shows in the past.

[bschneid76]

Posted: 9/26/05 at 2:29pm

Such a shame if it is true. I've always wanted to see her on stage. The only thing i've been able to see are her wonderful bits in Movie Movie, Annie and All That Jazz, which she is awesome in all three. And the little clips I've seen. I love Ann Reinking!

[Fosse76]

Posted: 9/26/05 at 2:54pm

You can also catch snippets of her from Fosse, which was recorded for PBS.

[bwayboi4life42]

Posted: 9/26/05 at 3:15pm

That would really suck if it's true. I LOVE Ann Reinking. She really is amazing.

[Lorelai]

Posted: 9/26/05 at 3:29pm

Well, I heard this at the flea market yesterday. I was at a table and bought a beautiful (and signed) photo of Ms. Reinking and Ben Vereen. As I was buying it, I said something like "I just love Ann Reinking, I haven't seen her in anything in awhile, I wish she would do something!" to the man working at the table and he is the one who told me she had been ill and had moved to Arizona. I was very surprised and all I could come up with was "Really?!" and he said yes. Of course then I commented how awful that was and everything, especially since I had been trying to find some way to write her a letter.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 9/26/05 at 4:23pm

Yes, she moved in July.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/26/05 at 4:26pm

I hope health wise she is okay.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 9/26/05 at 4:28pm

Well, the arthritis is pretty bad and she still has back issues. Other than that she is just fine.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/26/05 at 4:30pm

Well she still has her amazing dance skills, right?

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 9/26/05 at 4:46pm

She really hasn't had amazing dancing skills for a while. She'll never have those thunderbolt batments again unfortunately but then again age and injury are the dancers enemy. She still moves well though and I feel like she could definitely do Roxie again 8 times a week but not with ease.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/26/05 at 4:50pm

That is very sad, but certainly not an unusual situation for such an elite dancer. So many eventually succumb to injuries, arthritis and other ailments at a relatively young age. It makes you marvel at what McKechnie and Rivera can still do at their ages -- though I'm sure the physical toll they have to endure at this point is pretty heavy.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 9/26/05 at 4:55pm

Very true Margo, very true! While I'm still impressed with Annie and Donna, etc; Chita's dancing ability just floors me. Didn't she get pins put in her hips though to allow more rotation?

[PJ]

Posted: 9/26/05 at 5:04pm

I've always wanted to see her dance live in person. Looks like I'll never get the chance now.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/26/05 at 5:08pm

Well she can still choreograph, right? I hope so.

Recently she just had a private session with Brooke Shields for Roxie, so she is doing alright, hopefully.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/26/05 at 5:10pm

The only surgery I remember reading about for Rivera was after she broke her leg in that taxicab accident in the early 80s. Not sure if there were pins or rods or whatever inserted in her legs, but that she can even do HALF of what she can at 72 is absolutely miraculous. Medical schools should study that woman's body because she's a freak of nature.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 9/26/05 at 5:24pm

Ljay889, yes she can still choreograph and move. She is perfectly wonderful in that aspect she just couldn't dance "The Ballet Lesson" from DANCIN' anymore.

PJ, I'm sure that she will be on stage again but the movement will be minor so, there still is a chance.

Margo, for some reason I was thinking that when she went in for surgery from that accident that she had them put pins in her hips and that is why she can still has amazing extension. I agree she is amazing! If they could bottle up and sell some Chita, millions could be made!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/26/05 at 5:34pm

You very well may be right about the pins in her hips, but I just don't remember reading about it.

[ShuQ]

Posted: 9/26/05 at 5:43pm

What about BTP?

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 9/26/05 at 5:49pm

She's still in charge of BTP but she wasn't there at all this summer because of her move. Deb really runs it and Annie is just a name draw. A poster child if you will. She really hasn't been 'involved' since the late 90's.

[Lorelai]

Posted: 9/26/05 at 6:08pm

I know she's scheduled to be at the caberet festival "kander and ebb" show at town hall on the 21st of oct....

[SSkankin]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 1:58pm

She did not show up for the caberet festival "kander and ebb" show at town hall. Hope she is doing ok.

[Lorelai]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 2:51pm

"She did not show up for the caberet festival "kander and ebb" show at town hall. Hope she is doing ok."

Oh yes. I know. I nearly killed the poor guy working at the box office that night. Luckily they offered refunds.

[Lorelai]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 3:31pm

First let me say, I'm a pretty understanding person. I'm not the type of person who usually gets annoyed when a performer decides not to show up to a show or even a benefit. Things come up, life isn't always perfect and that's ok.

As you can see from earlier postings to this thread (and many other threads), Ms. Reinking is absolutely one of my favorite performers so, obviously, I was pretty excited to see Ms. Reinking at the Kander and Ebb show last week at Town Hall but she failed to show up. I was able to get a refund but I was still was crushed because I had really been looking forward to seeing Ms. Reinking perform.

I know she's had some healh problems so I'm guessing that's why she was a no show. I'm glad to see she's seems to be doing well now, one week later, I have to say...NOT FAIR!!

BroadwayWorld article

Updated On: 10/28/05 at 03:31 PM