Rita McKenzie was an actress, singer, and stage performer best known for her long-running one-woman show, “Ethel Merman’s Broadway,” which she performed for over three decades.
- Died: February 17, 2024 (Who else died on February 17?)
- Details of death: Died in Los Angeles after a long illness at the age of 76.
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Rita McKenzie’s legacy
Hailing from New Jersey, McKenzie’s voice, sense of humor, and vivacious personality made her a stage favorite. She opened for such major stars as Milton Berle (1908–2002), Don Knotts (1924–2006), Norm Crosby (1927–2020), and Steve Allen (1921–2000), and performed with the Philadelphia Pops, Baltimore Pops, and Cincinnati Pops orchestras. She had prominent roles in stage productions of “Anything Goes!” and “Annie Get Your Gun,” and co-starred in a three-year tour of “The Female Odd Couple” with Barbara Eden. She also co-produced the stage show “All Things Equal: The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.”
But McKenzie is best known for her tributes to stage legend Ethel Merman (1908–1984), especially her long-running show “Ethel Merman’s Broadway.” For more than 30 years, McKenzie toured the world performing Merman favorites like “I Got Rhythm,” “Anything Goes,” “Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” and “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” The show reached across the globe and is credited by many as the longest running one-woman show in history.
Though best known for her stage work, McKenzie occasionally appeared on the screen, too, including an appearance on “Frasier” and a television adaptation of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.”
Tributes to Rita McKenzie
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
