Legendary Broadway actress Ann Reinking was honored at the New York City Dance Alliance Foundation’s Bright Lights Shining Stars Gala this past Sunday night. Her resume alone is chock full of amazing performances over the past forty years, including legendary turns in Over Here!, Goodtime Charley, Dancin’ and of course Chicago, the latter of which she won a Tony award for. The NYU Skirball Center played host for the evening, which was packed with Broadway’s best to pay tribute to one of its biggest stars.
Other big names on the “Playbill” for the evening included Bebe Neuwirth, who won the Tony for Chicago during its run in 1997, as well as Joel Grey, Ben Vereen and many more.
I was fortunate enough to speak with the lovely Ann Reinking about the night ahead, what her fondest memories are over her career, and so much more. Take a look.
You smell so good!
Oh thank you, thank you very much! It’s called Paris by Yves Saint Laurent. You can find it in a nice drug store!
What does this night mean to you?
Oh, it means everything! It’s wonderful. I’m very nervous about it, but one never feels that they are really being honored but I am grateful to be honored.
Just go and sit back with some champagne!
I know! I’m going to get a glass of wine shortly.
Do you have a particular moment in your career that stands out more than anything else?
Wow, it’s hard to say that anything stands out more than anything else because when it’s really good, it’s really quite unbelievable! I would definitely say Chicago, when Patti Burch first hired me to do Over Here!, which was my first principle part.
What are you looking forward to tonight more than anything?
You know, I actually don’t even know what they are doing! It’s a big surprise to me.
For more information on the New York City Dance Alliance Foundation, please click here.