Photo Flash: Chita Rivera Receives Honorary Doctorate from University of Florida, Gainesville

The legendary Broadway icon has just added another honor to her vast array. On Friday, May 4, Chita Rivera was awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts Degree by the University of Florida, Gainesville, before thousands of graduating students and their families at the Class of 2018 Spring commencement. Rivera also presented a master class workshop to UF School of Theatre + Dance students and faculty following the graduation ceremony.

"Chita Rivera's accomplished career and exceptional talent have left a legacy in the Broadway world," said Joseph Glover, UF provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. "We are grateful for the connections she has made with our musical theatre program and are delighted to grant her an honorary degree from the University of Florida."

"Chita Rivera is honestly one of the few remaining legendary Broadway stars of all time," declares Professor Tony Mata, head of the musical theatre department. "There are few stars that are unlike anybody else, and she's one of them. You can't get any better than Chita."

The honorary degree award represents recognition of eminent achievement in scholarship or high distinction in public service, which exemplifies the purposes and ideals of the university. Honorary degrees are awarded for sustained achievements of lasting significance and value, not for a single accomplishment.

Rivera first came to UF in 2004 to receive the Linda Wilson Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Theatre. Professor Mata created this award with Linda and George Wilson to honor preeminent artists, and he chose Rivera to be the second recipient.

In the next few weeks, the busy Rivera will also be honored by The Actors Fund with their Medal of Honor (May 14) and she'll receive the 2018 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre (June 10). On May 10 she'll join SiriusXM's Seth Rudetsky for 2 shows at the Wallis in Los Angeles http://www.thewallis.org/; May 18 she participates in the MUNY's Centennial Gala in St. Louis; June 11 at the Guthrie Gala in Minneapolis; and on June 25 Chita and her long-time trio will perform two shows at the 92 St. Y in New York City (2:00 PM and 7:30 PM) https://www.92y.org/events

The School of Theatre + Dance is one of the University of Florida College of the Arts' institutionally-accredited schools. Undergraduate students can pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting, dance, musical theatre, theatre production-including costume design, lighting design and scenic design-or a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance studies or general theatre. Minors are also offered in dance and theatre as well as certificates in arts in medicine and dance in healthcare. Student organizations showcase programs and other intensives provide students with invaluable professional experiences. UF is home to three School of Theatre + Dance performance venues, including the Constans Theatre, Black Box Theatre and G-6 Studio. To learn more about the School of Theatre + Dance, including upcoming performance dates and ticket information, visit www.arts.ufl.edu/theatreanddance.

The College of the Arts, previously known as the College of Fine Arts, is one the 16 colleges and more than 150 research centers and institutes at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. The College of the Arts offers baccalaureate, master's and Ph.D. degree programs in its three fully-accredited schools - the School of Art and Art History, School of Music and School of Theatre and Dance. The college is home to the Center for Arts in Medicine, Center for World Arts, Digital Worlds Institute, University Galleries and the New World School of the Arts in Miami. More than 100 faculty members and more than 1,220 students work together daily to engage, inspire and create. The college hosts more than 300 performances, exhibitions and events each year. Faculty and students also exhibit and perform at other local, national and international venues. To learn more, visit www.arts.ufl.edu.

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 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 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 choreographer 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, Can-Canwith 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 November, 2016 she headlined at Carnegie Hall and in 2015, Great Performances aired their specialChita Rivera: A Lot of Livin' To Do, a retrospective of her extraordinary life and career nationally on PBS. Her current solo CD is entitled And Now I Swing.

Photo Credit: Lyon Duong