Ann Reinking RIP

The very first movie I ever saw in a theater when I was a kid was Annie, the film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical and I immeadiately developed a lifelong crush on the character of Grace Farrell, played by Ann Reinking.

Of course, it wasn't Grace I loved -- it was Ann, and for good reason: she was a gorgeous, blazing talent, a great actress and amazing dancer, a brilliant musical star.

And although she made very few movies (her other big one was All That Jazz where she played a fictional version of herself), Ann Reinking had a long and huge career on the Broadway stage. Her resume is a catalogue of classic: Caberet, Pippin, A Chrous Line, Chicago (the orginal and the revival) and others. In addition to appearing onstage, Reinking was also a Broadway choreographer, designing the dance moves for the (still running) revival of Chicago and, later on, the Broadway revue Fosse, a tribute to her late mentor and romantic partner, the mythic Bob Fosse. She also taught and mentored young dancers at Steps.

Ann Reinking was a classic NYC story -- a girl from elsewhere (Seattle) who moved to NYC to make it big and did. For years she was an icon of this city's culture. Even though she had retired and moved to Arizona a few years ago, he legacy continued -- on stage at Chicago and in last year's mini-series Fosse/Verdon. She died recently at age 71 and will be deeply missed. RIP.