Chita Rivera
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.
Date of Birth: January 23, 1933 (93)
Birth Place: Washington, DC, USA
Latest News on Chita Rivera:
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.
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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
Exclusive: Inside Rehearsals for the DEATH BECOMES HER National Tour
by Sam Anctil - 2026-09-13 12:00:09
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
News
by Sandra Arias Muñoz - Oct 9, 2026
Tras su exitoso paso por la cartelera la temporada anterior, ELLA ERA ANITA regresa este octubre al Teatre Condal de Barcelona para recuperar una propuesta de teatro musical profundamente inspirada en la figura de Chita Rivera.
by Andrew Poretz - Oct 9, 2026
Deborah Grace Winer's Songbook Sundays celebrated the legendary Kander and Ebb at Dizzy's, starring Karen Ziemba and Matthew Scott, and Vanisha Gould, with a terrific quartet delivering fresh takes on some of Broadway's most beloved songs.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 8, 2026
Emmy Award winner George Abud and Tony Award nominee Lilli Cooper join the cast of the Tony Award-winning musical SPRING AWAKENING. Cooper returns to the production nearly two decades after originating a role in the original Broadway production.
by Nicole Rosky - Oct 7, 2026
DancinDan Productions and Daryl Roth in Partnership with The School of Drama at The New School and the Ali Forney Center have just announced the NYC screening of BEA ARTHUR: The Documentary - “I’VE DONE EVERYTHING EXCEPT PORN,” a new feature documentary offering an intimate and revealing portrait of the Emmy and Tony Award-winning performer Bea Arthur on Sunday, October 25th at 3pm at John L. Tishman Auditorium at The New School.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 7, 2026
The Tony Award-winning musical SUFFS will begin a new national tour in fall 2027, starting at Proctors in Schenectady, NY. Additional cities and casting will be announced in coming months.
by Stephi Wild - Oct 6, 2026
Juan Pablo Di Pace, known for roles in Netflix's Fuller House and the film Mamma Mia!, will make his Broadway debut stepping into the role of Doc in the Tony Award-winning musical SCHMIGADOON!
by Stephen Mosher - Oct 5, 2026
Fresh off the heels of the gargantuan Broadway hit TITANIQUE, Deborah Cox makes the most glittering cabaret debut of this or any other season.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 30, 2026
Temple Theaters will present the musical adaptation of Lewis Carroll's classic novel, transposed to 1940s London during World War II. The production features music by the creators of SPRING AWAKENING.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 30, 2026
D. Sabella, Broadway's original Mary Sunshine in CHICAGO, will celebrate the iconic musical's 30th anniversary with a behind-the-scenes one-man show at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 29, 2026
Television and film star Xolo Maridueña will join the Tony and Grammy Award-winning Broadway production of BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB, playing Juan De Marcos at the Schoenfeld Theatre.
by Marissa Faith Curley - Sep 27, 2026
Atlantic Records has unveiled the pre-order for CATS: The Jellicle Ball (Original Broadway Cast Recording). Fans can now pre-save the album on Apple Music, where the album page features a special introductory message from ballroom icon Junior LaBeija ahead of its release.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 25, 2026
You can now see new photos of Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show, featuring Jake Shears as “Frank-N-Furter” as well as Lorna Courtney as “Janet”, Rachel Dratch as “Narrator,” Amber Gray as “Riff Raff,” and more.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 25, 2026
Coy Middlebrook has been appointed Artistic Director of the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, overseeing artistic planning, programming, and education initiatives.
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 24, 2026
The Dance Hall of Fame announced its second class of honorees, including Debbie Allen, George Balanchine, Toni Basil, Katherine Dunham, Savion Glover, Mandy Moore, the Nicholas Brothers, and WEST SIDE STORY legends George Chakiris, Rita Moreno and Russ Tamblyn.
by Michael Major - Sep 26, 2026
Great Scott! Kevin McHale is taking over our Instagram today. Follow along here as the production's new 'Brad Majors' takes our Instagram followers behind-the-scenes of the hit Broadway revival.
by Rachel Stone - Sep 23, 2026
Heartbeat Opera presents its 11th annual Drag Opera Extravaganza with QUEENEY TODD: The Demon Bottom of Fleet Street, a genre-bending revenge fantasy directed by ballroom legend Kemar Jewel at Judson Memorial Church in Greenwich Village.
by A.A. Cristi - Sep 18, 2026
Tony and Grammy nominee Jennifer Simard currently performs in the Tony Award-winning musical SCHMIGADOON! at the Nederlander Theatre, taking on the role of Mildred Layton. Check out new photos from the production.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 17, 2026
Broadway, concert and cabaret star Avery Sommers is returning to New York City to headline her one-woman-show FOR SENTIMENTAL REASONS at The Laurie Beechman Theatre.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 17, 2026
The North American tour of the Tony-nominated musical WATER FOR ELEPHANTS will perform at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle from October 6–11. Based on Sara Gruen's bestselling novel, the production features a book by Rick Elice and music by PigPen Theatre Co.
by Harker Jones - Sep 16, 2026
Tony winner Darko Tresnjak directs a nuanced and unsettling update of the 1956 Swiss play, adapted here by Maurice Valency.
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.
Chita Rivera has received numerous prestigious awards throughout her theatrical career. Her accolades include a Distinguished Performance Award from the Drama League Awards for The Visit, and a John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Theatre World Awards. She earned an Outstanding Lead Actress, Resident Musical recognition from the Helen Hayes Awards, also for The Visit. Rivera won an Outstanding Featured Actress - Musical Drama Desk Award for Nine, and received The American Express Tribute from the Helen Hayes Awards. Her performance in Kiss of the Spider Woman earned her a Best Actress - Musical award from the Outer Critics Circle Awards, as well as an Outstanding Actress - Musical Drama Desk Award. She also received a Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre award from the Drama League Awards. For Kiss of the Spider Woman, Rivera won the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical. Additionally, she received an Outstanding Actress in a Musical Drama Desk Award for The Rink and won the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for The Rink.
