Chita Rivera, one of Broadway’s finest and most iconic performers, passed away on January 30 at the age of 91. An ultimate triple threat, Rivera was a pioneer of the golden age of Broadway and had a career that spanned 65 years. Though perhaps less known to the general public, members of the theater community have been aware of her stardom and impact on entertainment for generations. She was a force to be reckoned with when it came to dance being a master of various styles and an expert on seduction and comedy as well. She could play any part to perfection.
Born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero Anderson, Chita Rivera started training in dance at the age of 9 at prestigious places such as the School of American Ballet under George Balanchine. Her breakthrough came with the touring musical Call Me Madam in 1951 where she auditioned and ended up being cast as the lead. That show ended up being the catalyst for starting her career because afterwards, she booked parts in Guys and Dolls, Can-Can, and Mr. Wonderful starring Sammy Davis Jr. However, it was her role as the original Anita in West Side Story on Broadway in 1957 that made her a veritable star. Her powerful yet playful interpretation of Anita set the precedent for all the other actresses who would play that role, including Rita Moreno and Ariana Debose who played Anita in the 1961 and 2021 movies respectively. Two of her other iconic roles that she helped create are Velma in the original Broadway production of Chicago alongside Gwen Verdon which was directed by the great Bob Fosse. She also worked alongside Bob Fosse in the film adaptation of Sweet Charity where she played the role of Nickie. Think of a show from the golden age of Broadway, and it’s most likely that Chita Rivera had some sort of impact on its production and success.
Many performers and dancers in general would not be the artists they are today without people like Chita Rivera who paved the way for not just women to have a rightful spot on the Great White Way, but for latinas as well. Rivera’s accolations and honors are endless with her being nominated for a Tony Award 10 times for either Best Actress in a musical or Best Featured Actress in a musical. She currently shares the record for most Tony Award nominations with Audra McDonald and Julie Harris. She won both a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for her work in Kiss of a Spider Woman in 1993 and was also presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2009. Chita Rivera will be remembered for being a pioneer of dance, a certified Broadway diva who never took no for an answer, and an artist whose commitment to the craft was unlike any other. Theatre would not be where it is today without her trailblazing and she truly changed the entertainment industry for the better.
