BIO
Rita performed the role of Hodel in the Broadway revival of "Fiddler on the Roof," directed by David Leveaux and starring Alfred Molina, Harvey Fierstein and Rosie O'Donell. After covering the two older daughters, she took over the role of Hodel and can be seen in the role at the Lincoln Center Archives.
She made her Broadway debut performing the role of Christine Daae in "The Phantom of the Opera" after two and a half years in the role with the national touring company.
Rita created the role of Lady Edith in the Off-Broadway hit musical "The Prince and The Pauper" at the Lambs theatre. Also Off-Broadway, Rita has appeared as Ethel Chicester in "Peg O' My Heart" at the Irish Repertory Theatre, Katrrin Binder in "Flirtation" at the Marvel Rep., and Diva in Terrance McNally's "Plesir D'more" at 59E59 Theatre. Rita also created the role of Elizabeth in the highly-acclaimed concept CD/DVD of "Frankenstein - The Musical" available at Amazon.com.
Favorite regional productions include Helen in "Fun Home" (White Plains Performing Arts Center and Theatersquared), Diana in "Next to Normal" (Theatersquared), Ethel McCormick in "Footloose" (The Fulton Theater), Martha Cratchitt in "Tim And Scrooge" (Westchester Broadway Theater), Laurey in "Oklahoma" and Johanna in "Sweeney Todd" (both at Marriot's Lincolnshire Theater), Julie Jordan in "Carousel," Christine in Maurey Yeston's "Phantom," Amaila in "She Loves Me," Fiona in "Brigadoon," Ann Collier in "1940's Radio Hour," Katrin in "I Remember Mamma," and Rose in "Street Scene".
Rita majored in Opera Performance at Simpson College and then received her Master's Degree at Northwestern University.
Favorite opera roles include Susanna in "Le Nozze Di Figaro," Adele in "Die Fledermaus," Laurie in "The Tender Land," and Monica in "The Medium".
Rita is the principle soprano in "Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway," which was voted the number one touring concert in the country. She has performed in concert with such stars as Rob Evan, Liz Calloway, Betty Buckley, Ben Vereen, Craig Schulman, Lillias White, Rita Moreno, and Michael Crawford.
She has performed with many symphonies, including the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra (with Maestro Stuart Malina), the Hershey Symphony, the Westfeld Symphony, the Rockford Symphony and the Syracuse Symphony.
Her two solo cabarets, "I Know These Things" and "Letting Go," played to rave reviews, and a recording of "Letting Go" is available on CDBaby.com. Her studio CD, "Wishing...," is available on CDBaby.com and iTunes.
Her one-woman show, "Heart Like a Wheel: The Music of Linda Ronstadt," has been booking around the New York area and will soon be seen at the Triad Theatre in NYC.
Rita is married to Broadway composer Neil Berg. They have a super-cool, baseball playing, 17-year-old son, Lucas Berg.