Chita Rivera to Join Seth Rudetsky in Concert at Steppenwolf This December

Chita Rivera is a living Broadway legend and a two-time Tony winner who originated the roles of Anita in "West Side Story", "Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie," Velma in "Chicago," and appeared in the original casts of "Guys and Dolls," "Can Can," "Jerry's Girls" and many others. Producer Mark Cortale has announced that she will be coming to Chicago for one show only on Monday, December 11 at 6:30 PM to be part of Steppenwolf's Lookout Series.

SiriusXM radio star Seth Rudetsky joins her as pianist and host for an evening of unforgettable songs and conversation. The format of the evening will be a seamless mix of intimate behind-the-scenes stories from one of Broadway's biggest stars - prompted by Rudetsky's insightful, funny, revealing questions - and Rivera singing some of the biggest hits from her musical theatre repertoire. This is a spontaneous evening of hilarity and show-stopping songs not to be missed.

A limited number of Prime Seating + VIP Experience tickets are available and guarantee the best seats in the house plus access to a post-show meeting and photo opportunity with Chita Rivera and Seth Rudetsky. For tickets and information, visit www.steppenwolf.org or call 312-335-1650.

An accomplished and versatile actress/singer/dancer, Chita Rivera has won two Tony Awards as Best Leading Actress in a Musical and received eight additional Tony nominations for an exceptional 10 Tony nominations. She recently starred in "The Visit," the final John Kander/Fred Ebb/Terrence McNally musical directed by J.H. Doyle and choreographed by Graciela Daniele on Broadway (2015), following the acclaimed production at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in the summer of 2014. She starred in the Broadway revival of "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," 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 and the revival of the Broadway musical "Nine" with Antonio Banderas. She trained as a ballerina (from age 11) before receiving a scholarship to the School of American 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 original Broadway premiere of "West Side Story" 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," and "Can-Can" with The Rockettes. Chita was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2009. She received the coveted Kennedy Center Honor in 2002 and became the first Hispanic woman ever chosen to receive this award. In November, 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. Chita's current solo CD is entitled And Now I Swing. Her most treasured production is her daughter, singer/dancer/choreographer Lisa Mordente.

Seth Rudetsky is the afternoon host on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio's "On Broadway" as well as the host of Seth Speaks on Sirius/XM Stars. As an author, he penned "My Awesome/Awful Popularity Plan" and the sequel "The Rise And Fall Of A Theater Geek" (Random House) as well as three volumes of "Seth's Broadway Diary" featuring inside scoop and hilarious stories from all of the stars he's worked with. He co-wrote and co-starred in "Disaster!" (NY TIMES "critics pick") last season on Broadway. "Disaster!" also premiered to rave reviews in London's West End in November. In June 2016, he and his husband, James Wesley, co-produced a recording of "What The World Needs Now" with stars like Idina Menzel, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Carole King, Audra McDonald which went to number one on iTunes and raised $100,000 for the Orlando shooting victims (and is still raising money. Buy it!). On Inauguration Day 2017, he and James started "Concert For America", a monthly series around the country (including S.F.!) helping 5 non-profits being hurt by the current administration. Stars such as Kelli O'Hara, Barry Manilow, Stephanie Mills, Vanessa Williams, Andy Cohen and more have performed and you can watch the next one streamed live on ConcertsForAmerica.com. For more information visit www.sethrudetsky.com.

The Steppenwolf ensemble first began performing in the mid-1970s in the basement of a Highland Park, IL church, the ambitious brainchild of three high school and college friends: Jeff Perry, Terry Kinney and Gary Sinise. Fast forward 40 years and the Steppenwolf Theatre Company has become the nation's premier ensemble theater-redefining the landscape of acting and performance. The ensemble has grown to 49 members who represent a remarkable generation of actors, directors and playwrights. Thrilling, powerful, groundbreaking productions from Balm in Gilead and Grapes of Wrath to August: Osage County-and accolades that included the National Medal of Arts and twelve Tony® Awards-have made the theater legendary. Steppenwolf's artistic force remains rooted in the original vision of its founders: an artist-driven theater, whose vitality is defined by its sharp appetite for groundbreaking, innovative work. Steppenwolf operates as a not-for-profit organization relying on community support to produce or presents up to 16 plays and nearly 700 performances, readings and other events every year on our three stages. The theater's artistic and educational programs draw a multi-generational audience of nearly 200,000 from the greater metropolitan Chicago area, while our impact reaches well beyond this region with productions that tour nationally and internationally.

Mark Cortale (Artist Manager & Producer) is the Producing Artistic Director at The Art House in Provincetown, Massachusetts. He produced Deconstructing Patti on Broadway this past September at the Nederlander Theatre with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS starring Patti LuPone and Seth Rudetsky which raised over $280,000 in one night. He also launched the Broadway @ concert series in 2011 at The Art House. The series, featuring creative partner Seth Rudetsky as music director and host, had its seventh season this past summer and guest artists included Sutton Foster, Jessie Mueller, Megan Hilty, Faith Prince, Beth Malone, Melissa Errico and Michael Cerveris. The Broadway @ series also premiered in 2013 in New Orleans, in Australia (Sydney & Melbourne) with Megan Mullally and in London's West End with Patti LuPone at the Leicester Square Theater. The series has since travelled to cities that include Chicago @ The Steppenwolf, Beverly Hills @ The Wallis, Fort Lauderdale @ The Parker Playhouse, San Francisco @ The Herbst Theatre and Scottsdale @ Scottsdale Center for the Arts. Other artists who have participated include Audra McDonald, Patti LuPone, Christine Ebersole, Chita Rivera, Kelli O'Hara, Neil Patrick Harris, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, Rosie O'Donnell, Vanessa Williams and Gavin Creel. Mark also produced the feature film Varla Jean and the Mushroomheads and the web television series Seth's Reality. He manages the singing string quartet Well-Strung which he co-founded. Info at markcortalepresents.com.

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