Tony Award Countdown: 30 Years In 30 Days, Chita Rivera's Triumphant Return in KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, 1993

Welcome to BroadwayWorld's Tony Award Countdown: 30 Years In 30 Days, a look at some of the Tony Awards' most memorable moments from the past three decades.

There's a moment in A CHORUS LINE when, after seeing a colleague injure himself while executing a move, the Broadway gypsies ponder the question, "What do you do when you can't dance anymore?"

That question came to the forefront of viewers' minds while watching the 1993 Tony Awards ceremony. Presenter Tommy Tune came on stage sporting crutches while nursing a broken foot. (Two years later, another foot break would cause the closing of his Broadway-bound musical BUSKER ALLEY.) Ben Vereen, who presented the award for Best Actress in a Musical, was then on Broadway playing Chimney Man in JELLY'S LAST JAM, after recovering from critical injuries from being hit by a utility vehicle.

He presented the award to his dear friend Chita Rivera, who was making a triumphant return to Broadway as film fantasy Aurora in KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN. In 1986, while starring in JERRY'S GIRLS, Rivera's left leg was broken in twelve places in a car collision, requiring the insertion of eighteen screws.

Her televised performance of "Where You Are," introduced with a scene performed by cast-mates Brent Carver and Anthony Crivello (the evening's winners for lead and supporting actors in a musical), announced to the world that this Broadway legend had a lot more kicks in her.

The American Theatre Wing's 70th Annual Tony Awards, hosted by Tony Award winner James Corden, will air on the CBS Television Network on Sunday, June 12, 2016 (8:00-11:00 PM, ET/delayed PT) live from the Beacon Theatre in New York City.