Chita Rivera
Birth Place: Washington, DC, USA
WATER FOR ELEPHANTS Cast Recording To Be Released On CD In August (Jul 11, 2024)
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld July 10, 2024 (Jul 10, 2024)
Review: BYE BYE BIRDIE at Palm Canyon Theatre (Jul 8, 2024)
Chita Rivera BIO
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.
Chita Rivera Photos
Host Chita Rivera, Host Richard Ridge, BroadwayWorld's Founder and CEO Robert Diamond and Theatre Director of Strategic Partnerships Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting Carla Hoke-MillerFrom: Photos: Go Inside BroadwayWorld's Star-Studded 20th Anniversary Celebration
Chita Rivera STAGE CREDITS
Chita Rivera Awards and Nominations
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Chita Rivera Videos
Video: Celebrating 25 Years of LaDuca Shoes with the Man Himself, Phil LaDucaby Joey Mervis - Jun 13, 2024
VIDEO: Christian Borle, Krysta Rodriguez, Richard Kind & More in BYE BYE BIRDIE at the Kennedy Centerby Joshua Wright - Jun 12, 2024
Audra McDonald Will Return to Broadway This Fall in GYPSY; Watch New Trailerby Nicole Rosky - May 29, 2024
Video: The Broadway Dance Community Hits the Red Carpet at the Chita Rivera Awardsby Joey Mervis - May 28, 2024
Video: THE WHO'S TOMMY Performs at the Chita Rivera Awards and MTC Gala in One Nightby Stephi Wild - May 28, 2024
Video: Phil LaDuca Shares Advice for Young Dancers of Today at the Chita Rivera Awardsby Nicole Rosky - May 21, 2024
Video: Nathan Lane Receives the Stephen Sondheim Award from Signature Theatreby Joshua Wright - May 13, 2024
Video: Watch Lorin Latarro's Sensational Choreography in THE WHO'S TOMMYby Nicole Rosky - Apr 22, 2024
Video: Watch CHICAGO Pay Tribute to Chita Rivera: 'A Broadway Giant Now Dancing With the Angels'by Michael Major - Jan 31, 2024
Video: First Look at Sufjan Stevens, Justin Peck and Jackie Sibblies Drury's ILLINOISEby Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 24, 2024
VIDEO: Watch Stephen Cole, Ward Roberts, and Peter Filichia Discuss 'Cole Porter as a Gay Icon'by Blair Ingenthron - Jan 13, 2024
VIDEO: Gloria Onitiri Performs 'Our Lady Of The Underground' From HADESTOWN in the West Endby Stephi Wild - Jan 12, 2024
VIDEO: Anaïs Mitchell Sings 'Flowers' at the HADESTOWN West End Launch Eventby Stephi Wild - Jan 12, 2024
VIDEO: The Company of THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL: A BEAUTIFUL NOISE Reveals Their Favorite Lines In the Showby A.A. Cristi - Dec 26, 2023
Video: Get a First Look at Nick Fradiani as 'Neil Diamond - Then' in A BEAUTIFUL NOISEby Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 29, 2023
Video: Watch Jordan Fisher Talk HADESTOWN During The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Paradeby Blair Ingenthron - Nov 25, 2023Chita Rivera News
The circus comes home! The Water for Elephants: Original Broadway Cast Recording will be released on CD this month.
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is July 10, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
What did our critic think of BYE BYE BIRDIE at Palm Canyon Theatre?
In this video, I am joined by a true Broadway legend, Miss Mary Testa. Mary's career as a performer has spanned over 4 decades and has garnered her extensive recognition as one of Broadway's strongest voices. With thirteen Broadway credits and three Tony Award nominations, Mary's work has impacted countless people and has transcended genre.
Ana Gasteyer and Seth Rudetsky will perform live at the White Plains Performing Arts Center this month. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
Next month, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.
Grant Gustin will play his final performance as 'Jacob Jankowski' in WATER FOR ELEPHANTS on Broadway on Sunday, September 1, 2024, at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre.
Michelle paid tribute to Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, Chita Rivera, Stockard Channing, Dionne Warwick, and many others, each song revealing new sides of Alexis and showcasing her range as both a singer and an actress. With the change of a lyric, she could shift from funny to touching, from charming to deep. Alexis exudes star quality.
Are you trying to plan your entertainment for the week or looking for a fun show to see this weekend? We have you covered with a few top picks for jazz, cabaret, comedy, and more! NYC has so many incredible events, but here are a few top picks to consider this week, including an If/Then reunion and plenty of shows celebrating Pride.
Rayshaun Sandlin has launched RAYNGE Production Company, which will aim to amplify the voices and narratives of marginalized communities, with a particular focus on Black and LGBTQIA+ stories.
Alexis Michelle is back at Joe’s Pub for PRIDE! From the start, Alexis idolized the female titans of showbiz; Judy, Carol, and of course LIZA! In an evening celebrating women, expect offerings from the likes of Dame Shirley Bassey, Chita Rivera, and Barbra Streisand.
Alexis Michelle brings her new show HEROINE WORSHIP to Joe's Pub, celebrating iconic female figures through song and storytelling on June 20, 2024.
See photos of Water for Elephants celebrating its 100 Broadway performance!
The Tony Award-winning new musical ILLINOISE featuring Tony-winning choreography by Justin Peck has added three matinee performances to its strictly limited engagement through Saturday, August 10 at the St. James Theatre
The 77th Annual Tony Awards took place on June 16. If you missed any of the action from the big night, check out all of the performances in the videos here!
The 77th Annual Tony Awards have wrapped up! Nicole Scherzinger performed 'What I Did For Love' during this year's 'In Memoriam' segment, honoring those we have lost this season. Watch the video here!
A special performance during the Tony Awards paid tribute to Chita Rivera who sadly passed away in January of this year. The performance showcased some of Chita's best and most iconic work, and even featured Ariana DeBose in a nod to West Side Story. Watch the video here!
Audra McDonald revealed on the Tony Awards red carpet that Gavin Creel pushed her to take on the role of Rose Hovick in Gypsy.
Still hurting over the end of the Broadway season? BroadwayWorld has just learned that that singer, songwriter and actor Nick Jonas and Tony Award winner Adrienne Warren will return to Broadway to star as 'Jamie' and 'Cathy' in the first ever Broadway production of Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown's beloved THE LAST FIVE YEARS. We have all of the details!
Take a deep dive into LaDuca Shoes history with this interactive timeline!
Chita Rivera FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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 several awards throughout her career, including the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Tony Awards, Outstanding Actress in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for "The Visit," Distinguished Performance Award at the Drama League Awards for "The Visit," Outstanding Actress in a Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "The Visit," and the John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Theatre World Awards. She has also been nominated for various other accolades such as Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards for "The Visit" and "Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life," Outstanding Lead Actress in a Resident Musical at the Helen Hayes Awards for "The Visit," and Outstanding Featured Actress - Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for "Nine." Additionally, she has received nominations for her roles in productions like "Kiss of the Spider Woman," "Jerry's Girls," "The Rink," "Merlin," "Bring Back Birdie," "Chicago," and "Bye Bye Birdie."
Chita Rivera has won several awards throughout her career, including the Distinguished Performance Award from the Drama League Awards for her role in The Visit. She also received the John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Theatre World Awards and the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Resident Musical award from the Helen Hayes Awards for The Visit. Additionally, she won the Outstanding Featured Actress - Musical award from the Drama Desk Awards for Nine and The American Express Tribute from the Helen Hayes Awards. Chita Rivera's accolades also include the Best Actress - Musical award from the Outer Critics Circle Awards and the Outstanding Actress - Musical award from the Drama Desk Awards for her performance in Kiss of the Spider Woman. She received the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre award from the Drama League Awards and the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical Tony Award for her role in Kiss of the Spider Woman. Furthermore, Chita Rivera won the Outstanding Actress in a Musical award from the Drama Desk Awards for The Rink and another Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical Tony Award for The Rink.
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