Favorite ThingsTheir Favorite Things: Ruthless! and Ethel Merman Star Rita McKenzie Shares Her Theatregoing ExperiencesLily Tomlin, Idina Menzel and Christopher Fitzgerald are among McKenzie’s favorites.
By
Andrew Gans
September 21, 2016
Rita McKenzie
Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Rita McKenzie, most recently seen Off-Broadway in the acclaimed revival of Ruthless!, will return to Feinstein’s/54 Below September 28 at 7 PM with her award-winning one-woman musical, Ethel Merman's Broadway. Here, the singing actress shares the performances that most affected her as part of the audience.
Hamilton
Christopher Jackson and company in Hamilton Joan Marcus
Loved Javier Munoz as Alexander Hamilton in Hamilton. He was charismatic and, dare I say, sexy. It worked for me. And Christopher Jackson — tall, commanding and presidential. A lot more than we're getting now.
Christopher Fitzgerald in Waitress
Christopher Fitzgerald, Kimiko Glenn, and Aisha Jackson in WaitressJoan Marcus
I've loved him since Wicked, and I loved him even more here.
Isabella Russo and Luca Padovan in School of Rock — The Musical
The children of School of Rock - The MusicalMatthew Murphy
Precocious and perfect.
Idina Menzel in Wicked
Idina Menzel in WickedJoan Marcus
She really “Let It Go”!
The original twins in Side Show, Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley
Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley in Side ShowJoan Marcus
Heck, anytime there's a production I'm there.
James Barbour in Phantom and Jane Eyre and A Tale of Two Cities
James Barbour
Matthew Murphy
Pretty much everything he's in.
Original Jersey Boys cast
The original Broadway cast of Jersey BoysJoan Marcus
I've seen it five times, and I'm already mourning that it's closing.
Reba McEntire in Annie Get Your Gun
Reba McEntire
A perfect marriage between subject and actress. Iconic.
Memories: Lily Tomlin in The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe
Lily Tomlin in The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe Annie Leibovitz
Magical.
More memories: Harvey Fierstein and Estelle Getty in Torch Song Trilogy
Estelle Getty and Harvey Fierstein in Torch Song Trilogy