Chita Awards Celebrate Ben Vereen With ‘Magic To Do’

Broadway actor and dancer Jelani Remy took center stage in New York City this week as the Chita Rivera Awards shone a spotlight on lifetime achievement honoree Ben Vereen. Remy joined Vereen to perform the signature number “Magic To Do,” a classic from the musical Pippin, celebrating the enduring legacies of Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon.

At The Chita Awards

The annual Chita Rivera Awards for Dance and Choreography convened at the Skirball Center on June 12, honoring outstanding work in Broadway, off-Broadway and national tours. In a moment that delighted theater fans, Remy—known for his dynamic performances in shows like Back to the Future: The Musical—shared the stage with Vereen in a vibrant tribute to a career that has inspired generations of dancers.

Honoring A Legend

In a post on Instagram, Remy wrote, “The Legacy lives on. Got to honor our @benvereen performing ‘Magic To Do’ with the @verdonfosselegacy at the @chitaawards part of his lifetime achievement award. It is beyond an honor to share the stage with such amazing talents and greats—Honor Chita, Bob Fosse and Ben Vereen as well as celebrate the fantastic work this season!” He credited photographer K. Barber (@kbarberphotography) for capturing the moment and praised his own look, styled by Brandon Burks (@brandon.burks) and That Dapper D (@that_dapper_d).

Ben Vereen, whose career spans Broadway, television and film, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his groundbreaking contributions to musical theater. His rendition of “Magic To Do,” originally choreographed by Fosse, was adapted for the evening by the Verdon Fosse Legacy troupe, a group dedicated to preserving the icon’s signature style and storytelling.

A Shared Tribute To Fosse And Verdon

The Verdon Fosse Legacy dancers joined Remy and Vereen on the stage, donning the trademark bowler hats, suspenders and jazz shoes that recall Fosse’s instantly recognizable movement vocabulary. The choreography echoed the sensual isolations and precise gestures that Gwen Verdon and Bob Fosse pioneered in productions like Damn Yankees and Sweet Charity.

“Sharing that number with Ben Vereen, who originally brought this to Broadway, felt like passing a torch from one generation to the next,” Remy told reporters after the show. Industry veterans—including choreographers Mia Michaels and Christopher Gattelli—gave Vereen a standing ovation when he accepted his award.

On And Off The Stage

Remy’s appearance at the Chita Rivera Awards caps a busy awards season. On May 20, he celebrated Broadway’s finest at the Drama League Awards, posting photos on Instagram from the podium as he cheered on nominees like Nicole Scherzinger and the creative teams behind Vanya on Stage and Oh Mary! The Drama League post (instagram.com/p/DJuqB42vNPq/) showed him in tuxedo and bowtie, mingling with theater royalty.

Through June, Remy continues performances in Back to the Future at the Winter Garden Theatre, bringing his high-energy dance style to a new audience. In interviews, he credits early mentors like Debbie Allen and Savion Glover with shaping his technique and passion for storytelling.

Dance communities across the country praised the Chita Awards broadcast on PBS this week, noting that moments like the Remy-Vereen duet underscore the importance of honoring history even as new artists push the boundaries of the form.

As the curtain fell on the Chita Rivera Awards, the message was clear: great performances live on through collaboration—and when a new star like Jelani Remy steps into the spotlight, he carries forward a heritage built by pioneers like Chita Rivera, Gwen Verdon and Bob Fosse.

Reporter

Sakshi

 

Sakshi holds a bachelor’s degree in Science and a master’s in Bioinformatics from Panjab University, India. Her passion for writing engaging articles has led her to pursue a career in content writing since 2020. Sakshi has written in various niches, including health and wellness, fintech, blockchain, and lifestyle.

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