Birth Place: Washington, DC, USA
A theatrical icon and one of Broadway's greatest triple-threat 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. A versatile actress/singer/dancer, her most recent starring roles include 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 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 in 2009 and received the coveted Kennedy Center Honor in 2002. In 2019, Chita performed her solo concert at London’s Cadogan Hall; 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. Her current solo CD is entitled And Now I Swing.
From: Photos: Go Inside BroadwayWorld's Star-Studded 20th Anniversary Celebration
From: Photo Flash: Inside The 25th Anniversary TDF/Irene Sharaff Awards
From: Photo Flash: Chita Rivera Joins The League Of Professional Theatre Women's for ORAL HISTORY
From: Photo Flash: Chita Rivera Joins The League Of Professional Theatre Women's for ORAL HISTORY
Chita Rivera
Chita Rivera, The Visit
Chita Rivera, The Visit
Chita Rivera, The Visit
Chita Rivera
Chita Rivera, The Visit
Chita Rivera, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Chita RiveraThe Visit
Chita Rivera, Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life
Chita Rivera, Nine
Chita Rivera , Nine
Chita Rivera, Nine
Chita RiveraKiss of the Spider Woman, The Musical
Chita Rivera
Chita Rivera, Kiss of the Spider Woman
Chita Rivera, Kiss of the Spider Woman
Chita Rivera
Chita Rivera, Kiss of the Spider Woman
Chita Rivera, Jerry's Girls
Chita Rivera, The Rink
Chita Rivera, The Rink
Chita Rivera, Merlin
Chita Rivera, Bring Back Birdie
Chita Rivera, Bring Back Birdie
Chita Rivera, Chicago
Chita Rivera , Bye Bye Birdie
More stars will be joining the 2024 Chita Rivera Awards. See the stars joining the event and learn more!
Discover the auction benefitting BC/EFA and The Al Hirschfeld Foundation featuring 20 limited-edition Al Hirschfeld prints, signed by iconic stage and screen stars.
Westport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand playreading of the comedic mystery, “Mrs. Christie,” a fictional account of the unsolved 1926 disappearance of Agatha Christie, one of the most-read mystery writers, written by Heidi Armbruster and directed by Mark Shanahan, on Monday, May 13, at 7 p.m.
Join the York Theatre Company for developmental readings of THE PIN-UP GIRLS, a musical love letter directed by Kerry Butler, on May 20.
Presenters have been announced for the 2024 Chita Rivera Awards, being presented on May 20 at 7:30pm at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place off Washington Square Park). See the lineup here!
Pittsburgh CLO's 2024 Summer of Musicals at the Benedum Center will be highlighted by Broadway and TV stars, as well as beloved Pittsburgh favorites. See who is starring and learn about the programming!
A special event was held recently for press to meet the Chita Rivera Awards nominees. BroadwayWorld was there and you can check out photos here!
The School Of American Ballet will invite alumni to join them, toasting SAB's milestone 90th Anniversary and presenting the first-ever Alumni of Distinction Awards at SAB's Alumni cocktail reception on Friday, June 7, 2024 at 7pm.
Happy Tony Award nominations day, BroadwayWorld! It is April 30, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours:
See who was nominated for Chita Rivera Awards! Check out the full list and learn more about the awards.
A pair of “Superheroes in Love” will bring their quadruple threat talents to Oscars Palm Springs for one night only May 11th at 7PM (Dinner and Drink service begins at 5:30pm). Nicolas Dromard and Desiree Davar, Winners of 2023 BroadwayWorld NYC Cabaret Awards as “Best Duo”, bring their high octane show to the Coachella Valley for the first time.
I initially started working on this show, and now I am the biggest Dylan fan. He's so ubiquitous. He's out there in the culture. So, of course, I knew Dylan and Dylan's songs, but this has made me a huge fan of his.
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is April 26, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Tony Award winner and dance icon Bebe Neuwirth, who is currently starring in Broadway’s revival of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, will announce this year’s Chita Rivera Awards nominations next week! Find out how to tune in here!
Willkommen, bienvenue, and welcome to Center Repertory Company's 2023-24 season finale, the Tony Award-winning musical Cabaret.
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is April 25, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Multi-Award winning actress Bernadette Peters will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Chita Rivera Awards. It was also announced that Tony, Oscar, and Golden Globe Award Winner Joel Grey will present Bernadette with her Award. The 2024 Chita Rivera Awards will take place on Monday, May 20 at 7:30pm at The Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place).
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is April 24, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
Previews begin tonight, April 24, for Illinoise, the theatrical adaptation of Grammy- and Oscar-nominated Sufjan Stevens’ concept album Illinois. Performances will continue through August 10 at the St. James Theatre. Meet the cast of Illinoise here!
Chita Rivera has appeared on Broadway in 22 shows.
Chita Rivera has appeared on London's West End in 4 shows.
Chita Rivera's first West End show was West Side Story which opened in 1958
Chita Rivera has been nominated for numerous awards throughout her illustrious career, including the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Tony Awards. She has received nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for "The Visit" and the Distinguished Performance Award at the Drama League Awards for the same production. Rivera also garnered nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "The Visit" and the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical Tony Award for the same show. Additionally, she received nominations for various other productions, such as "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," "Nine," "Kiss of the Spider Woman," "Jerry's Girls," "The Rink," "Merlin," "Bring Back Birdie," and "Chicago." Rivera's nominations include accolades from prestigious organizations like the Helen Hayes Awards and the Theatre World Awards. Her talent and contributions to musical theatre have been recognized with nominations for a wide range of categories, showcasing her versatility and enduring impact on the Broadway stage.
Chita Rivera has won several awards throughout her illustrious career, including the Distinguished Performance Award from the Drama League Awards for "The Visit," the John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Theatre World Awards, the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Resident Musical from the Helen Hayes Awards for "The Visit," the Outstanding Featured Actress - Musical from the Drama Desk Awards for "Nine," the American Express Tribute from the Helen Hayes Awards, the Best Actress - Musical from the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "Kiss of the Spider Woman," the Outstanding Actress - Musical from the Drama Desk Awards for "Kiss of the Spider Woman," the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre from the Drama League Awards, the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical from the Tony Awards for "Kiss of the Spider Woman," the Outstanding Actress in a Musical from the Drama Desk Awards for "The Rink," and the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical from the Tony Awards for "The Rink."
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