C H I T A R I V E R A
A theatrical icon and one of Broadway’s greatest triplethreat
talents, Chita Rivera is one of the most nominated
performers in Tony Award history having earned 10
nominations, won twice and received the 2018 Special Tony
Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.
An accomplished and versatile actress/singer/dancer,
she recently starred in The Visit, the final John Kander/
Fred Ebb/Terrence McNally musical directed by John Doyle
and choreographed by Graciela Daniele on Broadway;
the Broadway revival of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, the
Broadway and touring productions of The Dancer’s Life, a
dazzling new musical celebrating her spectacular career,
written by Terrence McNally and directed by Graciela Daniele
and the revival of the Broadway musical Nine with Antonio
Banderas.
She trained as a ballerina (from age nine) before receiving
a scholarship to the School of American Ballet from the
legendary choreographer George Balanchine. Chita’s first
appearance (age 17) was as a principal dancer in Call Me
Madam. Her electric performance as Anita in the original
Broadway premiere of West Side Story brought her stardom,
which she repeated in London.
Her career is highlighted by starring roles in Bye Bye
Birdie, The Rink (Tony Award), Chicago, Jerry’s Girls, Kiss of
the Spider Woman (Tony Award), and the original Broadway
casts of Guys and Dolls, Can-Can, Seventh Heaven and Mr.
Wonderful. On tour: Born Yesterday, The Rose Tattoo, Call
Me Madam, Threepenny Opera, Sweet Charity, Kiss Me Kate,
Zorba, Can-Can with The Rockettes.
Chita was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom
by President Barack Obama and received the coveted
Kennedy Center Honor. In 2018 she was honored as a
Living Landmark by the New York Landmarks Conservancy;
in 2016 she headlined at Carnegie Hall and in 2015, Great
Performances aired their special Chita Rivera: A Lot of Livin’
To Do, a retrospective of her extraordinary life and career
nationally on PBS. Chita’s current solo CD is entitled And
Now I Swing. Her most treasured production is her daughter,
singer/dancer/choreographer Lisa Mordente.