An Evening with Chita Rivera

Tuesday, November 12, 2013 – 8:00 pm

Photo by Laura Marie Duncan

An accomplished and versatile actress/singer/dancer, Chita Rivera has won two Tony Awards as Best Leading Actress in a Musical and received seven additional Tony nominations. She just concluded a successful run starring in the new Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood on Broadway. She starred in 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. She recreated her starring role in The Visit, the new Kander/Ebb/McNally musical at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA (originally done at the Goodman Theatre, Chicago in 2001). She also starred in the revival of the Broadway musical Nine with Antonio Banderas. She trained as a ballerina (from age 11) before receiving a scholarship to the American School of Ballet from legendary George Balanchine. Chita’s first appearance (age 17) was as a principal dancer in Call Me Madam. Her electric performance as Anita in the Broadway premiere of West Side Story (1957) 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 on August 12, 2009. She received the coveted Kennedy Center Honor in Washington, D.C., in December, 2002, and is the first Hispanic woman ever chosen to receive this award. In May 2013, she was appointed to a special Kennedy Center Honors Advisory Committee. Chita’s current solo CD is entitled And Now I Swing. On October 7, 2013, she will be honored with a star-studded concert on Broadway, “Chita: A Legendary Celebration,” to Benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS at the August Wilson Theatre.  Her most treasured production is her daughter, singer/dancer/choreographer Lisa Mordente.

This event is free and open to the public. No tickets required.

For more information, call 814-824-3000 or visit miac.mercyhurst.edu.