The Ritz News & Features

When Gaetano Proclo needs to hide from mobster Carmine Vespucci, he escapes to the Ritz. Once Gaetano realizes he's in a gay bathhouse and not a Turkish bath, he pretends to be a big-time Broadway producer to keep suspicions low. But when Carmine locates Gaetano, wild, manic mayhem ensues. Meanwhile, the resident chanteuse, Googie Gomez, works her wiles on poor Gaetano in hopes of making it big on the Great White Way. The Ritz premiered on Broadway in January 1975 at [IMG:L]the Longacre Theatre, becoming playwright Terrence McNally's first big hit. After closing, the play was made into a feature film starring Broadway leading players Jack Weston (Gaetano), Rita Moreno (Googie) and Jerry Stiller (Carmine). Now, more than 30 years later, Broadway theatergoers can go back to the bathhouse to enjoy this hilarious farce with an expert cast including Tony nominee Kevin Chamberlin as Gaetano and Rosie Perez as Googie. Read More