VIDEO: Broadway Star Chita Rivera Talks Tour, History-Making Career and More on TAVIS SMILEY

Popular PBS broadcaster Tavis Smiley interviewed Chita Rivera on his program yesterday, January 29, and you can watch the full appearance below, in which Rivera reflects on her history-making career!

This past weekend, Ms. Rivera kicked off her concert tour CHITA: A LEGENDARY CELEBRATION in the Los Angeles area and played to SRO audiences. Both Ben Vereen and Dorian Harewood were among the guests on Saturday. For additional concert dates, visit www.chitarivera.com.

Rivera recently starred in the successful production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood on Broadway and starred in 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. She recreated her starring role in The Visit, the new Kander/Ebb/McNally musical at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA (originally done at the Goodman Theatre, Chicago in 2001). She also starred in the revival of the Broadway musical Nine with Antonio Banderas.

Her electric performance as Anita in the Broadway premiere of West Side Story (1957) 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 she has starred in Born Yesterday, The Rose Tattoo, Call Me Madam, Threepenny Opera, Sweet Charity, Kiss Me Kate, Zorba, and, Can-Can with The Rockettes.

TAVIS SMILEY is a unique hybrid of news, issues and entertainment, featuring interviews with politicians, entertainers, athletes, authors and other newsmakers. Tavis Smiley was named to TIME's list of 100 "Most Influential People in the World."

TAVIS SMILEY is produced by The Smiley Group, Inc./TS Media, Inc. The 30-minute program airs weeknights on PBS. Get local listings and watch past episodes.

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