Broadway Legend Chita Rivera died aged 91 on January 30th, 2024. Her trademark energy earned her much respect and several awards for her iconic performances.
Chita Rivera was one of Broadway’s most celebrated stars with a nearly seven-decade theatre career. Some of her most notable performances include Anita in “West Side Story” and Rose in “Bye Bye Birdie”.
The talented dancer, singer, and actor earned 10 Tony nominations. She won twice for her performances in 1984 for “Rink” and 1993 for “Kiss of the Spider Woman”. Her death was announced on Thursday 30th January in Washington, DC. Her father, Pedro del Rivero, played in the United States Navy Band.
After taking dance classes, she entered the prestigious School of American Ballet in New York. Aged 17, she scored her first theatre gig in the touring company of “Call Me Madam”. This led to opportunities in such shows as “Guys and Dolls” and “Can-Can”.
In 1957, Rivera played Anita in the original production of “West Side Story” and was still dancing a half-century later in 2015’s “The Visit”. “I wouldn’t know what to do if I wasn’t moving or telling a story to you or singing a song,” Rivera told the press at the time. “That’s the spirit of my life, and I’m really so lucky to be able to do what I love, even at this time in my life.”
Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in August 2009, the highest honour awarded to a civillian in the US. In 2013, she served as the marshal at the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York.
“She was a true Broadway legend,” said playwright Paul Rudnick. “She always delivered and audiences adored her. The moment she stepped onstage, the world became more exciting and glorious.”
Starting as a chorus girl, Rivera soon became a star. Rivera collaborated with many of Broadway’s greatest talents – including Jerome Robbins, Leonard Bernstein, Bob Fosse, Gower Champion, Michael Kidd, Harold Prince, Jack Cole, Peter Gennaro, John Kander, and Fred Ebb.
“She can’t rehearse except for full-out,” said playwright Terrence McNally in 2005. “She can’t perform except for full-out, no matter what the size of the house. She’s going to be there 101% for that audience.” When accepting a Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2018, Rivera said “I wouldn’t trade my life in the theater for anything, because theater is life.”
Her trademark energy will be missed by Broadway. Many playwrights and performers looked up to and admired her incredible talent.