RITA: More Than A Memory, a new musical about Hollywood star Rita Hayworth and her battle with progressive Alzheimer’s disease, is in development with New York Theatre Barn.
The musical, being written by Bettina Covo and Cheryl Stern, explores the toll that such a misunderstood disease took on Hayworth’s life, and Hollywood’s erasure of Hayworth’s Spanish heritage and identity throughout her career.
Hayworth, born Margarita Cansino, is most notable for her breakout role in the ’40s film noir Gilda, alongside a series of other Golden Age classics such as Only Angels Have Wings and The Strawberry Blonde. She has also starred in Technicolor musical films alongside Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.
The production is co-directed and choreographed by Joe Barros and Héctor Flores Jr., with music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations by Emmy Award-winner Tom Kochan.
The original musical was featured in New York Theatre Barn’s Choreography Lab with a week-long residency hosted by the company. The residency featured an entirely Latine ensemble, including Karmine Alers (On Your Feet!, Rent) in the titular role, Claudia Mulet (Real Women Have Curves), Luis Villabon (Papermill’s On Your Feet!), Sandra Marante (Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular), Bryan Ernesto Menjivar, José Ozuna, Stephanie “Bibi” Perez, Liah Severino, and Gabriella Boera as Young Rita.
The residency was produced in association with Michael Slater, Shannon Polly, and William Fernandez, and featured music direction by Bruce De La Cruz.
Visit NYTheatreBarn.org.
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