Chita Rivera
Birth Place: Washington, DC, USA
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BIO
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.
Her most recent starring roles included 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.
Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero Anderson was born on January 23, 1933 in Washington, D.C., the daughter of Katherine (Anderson) and Pedro Julio Figueroa del Rivero.
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 19) was as a principal dancer in Call Me Madam.
Chita burst onto the Broadway scene in 1957 with her electric performance as Anita in the original Broadway premiere of West Side Story, which she repeated in London in 1958.
Her career was 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 solo CD is entitled And Now I Swing. Her book CHITA: A MEMOIR was published by HarperOne in April 25, 2023.
In 2017 it was announced that the Astaire Awards, which promote and recognize dance and choreographic excellence on Broadway, Off-Broadway and in film, would be renamed the Chita Rivera Awards.
Chita was a dear friend of BroadwayWorld, having co-hosted our 20th anniversary concert event alongside Richard Ridge. She died on January 30, 2024 in New York after a brief illness at age 91.
Photos
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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-Miller
From: Photos: Go Inside BroadwayWorld's Star-Studded 20th Anniversary Celebration
STAGE CREDITS
See how Chita Rivera connects to other Broadway stars and creatives.
Six Degrees of Broadway Beta
See how many degrees separate Chita Rivera from another Broadway star or creative.
Chita Rivera
Connection
Awards and Nominations
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Videos
Video: Luke Evans Lays Out the Challenges of Performing in a Corset in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW
by Nicole Rosky - 2026-07-23 16:57:37
Video: CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Cast Performs 'Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat' on THE TONIGHT SHOW
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-06-23 09:17:35
Video: Robert Montano Answers Big Questions About His New Play, SMALL
by Backstage Live with Richard Ridge - 2026-06-18 11:34:22
Video: CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Performs 'The Jellicle Ball' on THE VIEW
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-05-28 14:37:18
Video: Follow Robert 'Silk' Mason's Path to CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL in STAGEBOUND
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-05-26 13:05:35
Video: CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Performs 'Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat' in the Subway
by Michael Major - 2026-05-22 13:25:28
Video: CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Cast Performs at WNYC Concert Event
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-05-21 15:40:07
Video: CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Cast Performs Flashy Dance Number on GOOD MORNING AMERICA
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-04-21 11:34:42
Video: Watch Highlights from CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL on Broadway
by Nicole Rosky - 2026-04-07 18:24:15
Video: Watch the Full Conversations with CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Cast and Crew From CBS Sunday Morning Segment
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-03-30 15:18:26
Character Breakdown: CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Cast Unpacks Their Jellicle Roles
by Luka Vonier - 2026-03-07 08:00:20
Video: Marc Kudisch Sings 'Just in Time' & 'I Met A Girl' from BELLS ARE RINGING at 54 Below
by Michael Major - 2026-02-13 11:15:25
Video: Michael Crawford Talks Being Honored By the Kennedy Center
by A.A. Cristi - 2025-12-23 19:53:21
Video: Celebrate Dick Van Dyke's 100th Birthday in New Documentary
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-11-03 11:53:18
News
by Stephi Wild - Aug 5, 2026
Emmy Award-winner Ana Gasteyer will play her final performance as Mildred Layton in Schmigadoon! on Broadway this September. Replacement casting for the role of Mildred Layton is to be announced.
by Marissa Faith Curley - Aug 1, 2026
From the stage of the Broadhurst Theatre, “Tempress” Chasity Moore, who plays the role of ‘Grizabella,’ delivered the news that CATS: The Jellicle Ball, the wildly acclaimed Tony Award-winning musical revival, will record a cast album to be released this winter on Atlantic Records.
by Bruce Glikas - Jul 31, 2026
The original Broadway 'Rum Tum Tugger' Terrence Mann recently paid a visit to Cats: The Jellicle ball on Broadway. Backstage, he posed with Sydney James Harcourt, who plays Rum Tum Tugger in this production. Check out photos here.
by Michael Major - Jul 30, 2026
Schmigadoon! has released new footage of Max Clayton performing 'You Can't Tame Me' in the Tony-winning production. Joined by Tony nominee Sara Chase, watch a video of Clayton performing the Carousel-inspired number.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 29, 2026
Tickets to Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show are now on sale through February 2027 at Studio 54 on Broadway. The Rocky Horror Show received 9 Tony Award nominations including Best Musical Revival.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 27, 2026
Randy Weiner, who is the producer of Andrew Lloyd Webber's immersive Masquerade Off-Broadway, would like to take over Cats: The Jellicle Ball, which recently announced its closing on Broadway.
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 24, 2026
The Peter Gennaro Project announced a workshop at Broadway Dance Center, reconstructed from Tony Award-winning choreographer Peter Gennaro's original notes, where participants will learn his signature jazz vocabulary and perform 'Easy Street' from ANNIE.
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 24, 2026
Jake Shears, Lorna Courtney, and Kevin McHale are set to join the Broadway cast of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW at Studio 54, replacing Luke Evans, Stephanie Hsu, and Andrew Durand.
by Stephi Wild - Jul 24, 2026
Ahead of its closing, Cats: The Jellicle Ball filmed a recent performance by the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Lin-Manuel Miranda and Gaten Matarazzo served as the guest judges.
by Nicole Rosky - Jul 23, 2026
2026 Tony nominee Luke Evans just stopped by Late Night with Seth Meyers last night to talk about wearing stilettos and a corset in his Broadway debut for The Rocky Horror Show. 'The corset constricts you! Of course I'm singing these big rock songs, and having to sing big, big notes.Taking a breath when I'm bouncing around the stage thinking I'm 22 years old (and I'm not) is quite a feat. To the point that in the wings I have oxygen tanks!' Watch the full interview in this video.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 23, 2026
Schmigadoon! will release an original Broadway cast recording on Friday, August 21. Schmigadoon! (Original Broadway Cast Recording) will include the entire Tony Award-winning score and orchestrations.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 22, 2026
Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show celebrated its 100th performance at Studio 54 on Broadway. See photos of the cast and crew celebrating on stage here!
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 17, 2026
Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show will welcome a new Columbia to its Broadway company this month. Valentina will join the Tony Award-nominated revival beginning Tuesday, July 21, 2026, marking her Broadway debut.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 15, 2026
The full cast has been revealed for the first year of the multi-year North American Tour of Death Becomes Her, launching at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, OH this September.
by Joshua Wright - Jul 13, 2026
The performance of CATS: the Jellicle Ball on Monday, July 13th, at 7pm has been cancelled by the production due to company illness.
by Nicole Rosky - Jul 13, 2026
The ball is over. BroadwayWorld has just learned that Cats: The Jellicle Ball, the Tony Award-winning musical revival, will end its Broadway run at the Broadhurst Theatre on Saturday evening, August 8. Later this month, the production will be filmed by the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive (TOFT) at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts and added to its collection.
by Michael Major - Jul 13, 2026
Death Becomes Her will announce the cast for its upcoming North American tour on Wednesday. Following its final performance on Broadway, the Tony-winning musical will launch its North American tour at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, OH.
by - Jul 10, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is July 10, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by Stephi Wild - Jul 13, 2026
In this edition of Words From The Wings, we catch up with Tara Lashan Clinkscales of CATS: The Jellicle Ball, who took us backstage at the Broadhurst Theatre to share some of her favorite backstage moments, must-haves, and more!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 7, 2026
Tony Award-winning songwriting duo Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty will be honored with the Ockie Award at the Oscar Hammerstein Museum's Something Wonderful Gala, featuring a concert by Liz Callaway.
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
Lifetime Achievement Award (Tony Awards), Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for The Visit, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for The Visit, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Visit, John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement (Theatre World Awards), Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Visit, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical (Helen Hayes Awards) for The Visit , Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life, Outstanding Featured Actress - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Nine, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Nine , Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Nine, Outstanding Lead Actress, Non-Resident Production (Helen Hayes Awards) for Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Musical , The American Express Tribute (Helen Hayes Awards), Best Actress - Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Kiss of the Spider Woman, Outstanding Actress - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Kiss of the Spider Woman, Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre (Drama League Awards), Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Kiss of the Spider Woman, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Jerry's Girls, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for The Rink, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Rink, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Merlin, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Bring Back Birdie, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Bring Back Birdie, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Chicago and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Bye Bye Birdie.
# What awards has Chita Rivera won? Chita Rivera has received numerous prestigious awards throughout her career. Her accolades include the Distinguished Performance Award from the Drama League Awards for The Visit, the John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Theatre World Awards, and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Resident Musical from the Helen Hayes Awards for The Visit. She earned the Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical award from the Drama Desk Awards for Nine and the Outstanding Actress in a Musical from the Drama Desk Awards for The Rink. Rivera also received the American Express Tribute from the Helen Hayes Awards and the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre award from the Drama League Awards. Additional honors include Best Actress in a Musical from the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Kiss of the Spider Woman, Outstanding Actress in a Musical from the Drama Desk Awards for Kiss of the Spider Woman, and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical from the Tony Awards for Kiss of the Spider Woman.
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