Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life - Broadway Creative Team

... read more Lynn Ahrens' writing spans the Broadway stage, feature film and network television. She won the Tony Award, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards and received two Grammy nominations as lyricist of the Broadway musical Ragtime; in the same year, she received two Academy Award nominations, two Golden Globe nominations and a Gold Record for Twentieth Century Fox's animated feature film Anastasia. She wrote book and lyrics for Seussical (Grammy nomination, one of the most performed shows in America); Once On This Island (London Olivier Award, Best Musical, Tony nominations for Best Book and Score); Lincoln Center Theater's The Glorious Ones ... read more Irving Berlin's incredible songbook remains deeply engrained in the current musical landscape of the US, UK and beyond. Contemporary pop artists who have given their own stamp to his work include Lady Gaga, Bob Dylan, Gregory Porter, Rufus Wainwright, Billie Martin, Herb Alpert, Leonard Cohen, Paul McCartney, Michael Buble, Lily Frost, Sarah McLachlan and most recently Gwen Stefani on her 2017 Christmas album. His music continues to be widely featured in films, commercials and television shows. Lady Gaga sang "God Bless America" at 2017's Super Bowl Halftime Show, whilst Seth MacFarlane covered "Let's Face the Music and Dance" for animated ... read more Leonard Bernstein was born on August 25, 1918, in Lawrence, Massachusetts. He took piano lessons as a boy and attended the Garrison and Boston Latin Schools. At Harvard University, he studied with Walter Piston, Edward Burlingame-Hill, and A. Tillman Merritt, among others. Before graduating in 1939, he made an unofficial conducting debut with his own incidental music to "The Birds," and directed and performed in Marc Blitzstein's "The Cradle Will Rock." Then at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, he studied piano with Isabella Vengerova, conducting with Fritz Reiner, and orchestration with Randall Thompson. In 1940, he studied at the ... read more Jerry Bock was an American composer best known for his work in musical theater. Born in New Haven, Connecticut on November 23, 1928, Bock showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at a young age. He studied music at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and later at the Manhattan School of Music. Bock's first success in musical theater came in 1955 with the production of "Catch a Star," which he wrote with lyricist Larry Holofcener. However, it was his collaboration with lyricist Sheldon Harnick that would bring him his greatest success. The two first worked together on the ... read more Cy Coleman was a prolific composer, songwriter, and jazz pianist who made a significant impact on American music and Broadway. Born Seymour Kaufman in 1929 in New York City, Coleman began playing piano at an early age and was soon performing in clubs and bars around the city. He studied at the Juilliard School of Music and the Manhattan School of Music, but his true education came from playing with jazz greats like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Coleman's first foray into Broadway was with the musical "Wildcat" in 1960, which starred Lucille Ball. The show was not a critical success, ... read more ... read more As a writer, lyricist, composer and director, Fred Ebb made incalculable contributions to the New York theatrical community. Mr. Ebb is a Tony, Grammy, Emmy, Olivier and Kennedy Center Honors Lifetime Achievement Award winning recipient. Fred Ebb's first professional songwriting assignment came in 1953 when he and Phil Springer were hired by Columbia Records to write a song for Judy Garland called "Heartbroken." Mr. Ebb was introduced to composer John Kander in 1964 by music publisher Tommy Valando and became one of the most legendary songwriting teams in American history. The first successful collaboration was on the song "My Coloring ... read more ... read more ... read more Stephen Flaherty writes music for theater, film, recordings and the concert stage. He is perhaps best known as the composer of the Broadway musicals Ragtime (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Awards, two Grammy nominations), Seussical (Grammy and Drama Desk nominations), Once on This Island (Tony nomination, Olivier Award for London's Best Musical), and also contributed music to Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life (original songs) and Neil Simon's Proposals (incidental music). He has also written four musicals produced at Lincoln Center Theatre: The Glorious Ones (Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk nominations), Dessa Rose (Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk ... read more Sheldon Harnick is a legendary lyricist and composer who has made an indelible mark on Broadway. Born in Chicago in 1924, Harnick began writing songs at a young age, and went on to attend the Northwestern University School of Music. After serving in World War II, he moved to New York City to pursue a career in musical theater. Harnick's first Broadway credit came in 1955, when he wrote the lyrics for the musical "The Body Beautiful." However, it was his collaboration with composer Jerry Bock that would prove to be his most successful partnership. The duo first worked together on ... read more ... read more Highlights include Jerry Zaks' 1992 Guys and Dolls, The Boy From Oz starring Hugh Jackman, and Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life. As music director for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Hummel composed 3 songs for their 75th celebration in 2007. ... read more American composer John Kander (b. Kansas City, MO, March 18, 1927) is the musical partner of the songwriting team of Kander and Ebb, who together created at least sixteen Broadway shows, Flora the Red Menace (1965), Cabaret (1966), Chicago (1975), and Curtains (2007) among them. They also contributed material to fourteen films and television specials over their forty-year association. Independently John Kander supplied the scores to many films, including Something For Everyone (1970), Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), Places in the Heart (1984), and Billy Bathgate (1991). ... read more ... read more McNally has had a remarkably far-ranging career spanning six decades. In 2018 he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He is a recipient of the Dramatists Guild Lifetime Achievement Award and the Lucille Lortel Lifetime Achievement Award. He has won four Tony Awards for his plays Love! Valour! Compassion! and Master Class and his musical books for Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime. He has written a number of TV scripts, including "Andre's Mother," for which he won an Emmy Award. He has received two Guggenheim Fellowships, a Rockefeller Grant, four Drama Desk Awards, two ... read more ... read more Cole Porter composer and lyricist, created a sophisticated and rich body of work that appeared on both Broadway and the Big Screen. Charming melodies and clever lyrics set Porter aside from other composers. Notable songs include, “Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall In Love)” for Paris, “Night and Day” for Gay Divorce, “Wunderbar” for Kiss Me, Kate, “All Through the Night,” “I Get A Kick Out Of You,” “Blow Gabriel Blow,” and the title song for Anything Goes. Porter won his first Tony for his Kiss Me, Kate score. He also wrote many famous songs that appeared in films including, “I’ve ... read more Stephen Sondheim is widely acknowledged as the most innovative, most influential, and most important composer and lyricist in modern Broadway history. He is the winner of an Academy Award, numerous Tony Award, multiple Grammy Awards and a Pulitzer Prize. Some of his other accolades include a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center Honors (1993), the National Medal of Arts (1996), the American Academy of Arts and Letters' Gold Medal for Music (2006) and a special Tony Awards for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre (2008). Stephen Sondheim wrote the music and lyrics for Road Show (2008), Passion (1994), Assassins (1991), Into ... read more Charles Strouse is a Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist whose contributions to the world of musical theater have left an indelible mark. Born in New York City in 1928, Strouse began playing piano at an early age and went on to study composition at the Eastman School of Music and the Juilliard School. Strouse's first Broadway credit came in 1960 with the musical "Bye Bye Birdie," which he co-wrote with lyricist Lee Adams. The show was a smash hit, running for over 600 performances and earning Strouse his first Tony Award for Best Musical. "Bye Bye Birdie" tells the story of ... read more ... read more ... read more Gary has been working as a theater musician in New York for over 25 years. As a pianist and conductor, his credits include Avenue Q, Kinky Boots, Next to Normal and The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. As a writer, he wrote music and lyrics for the long-running Off-Broadway musical Altar Boyz, for which he received two Drama Desk Award nominations. Other writing credits include Disney Channel’s “Johnny and the Sprites” and a number of contributions to the “Carols for a Cure” album series. ... read more Broadway: Spring Awakening, Lovemusik, Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life. Prior devoted herself to humanitarian work including addressing the genocide in Kosova. Devotes each summer to co-running the Diller-Quaille Summer music program which has provided a rich musical experience for countless children in Harlem. ... read more Broadway highlights: Dear Evan Hansen, She Loves Me, Curious Incident..., Gigi, The Bridges of Madison County, If/Then, Macbeth, Death of a Salesman, Follies, Sister Act, Arcadia, A Steady Rain, Shrek, The Little Mermaid, Legally Blonde, Spamalot, Tarzan, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Nine, Gypsy, Sweet Smell of Success, The Invention of Love, Aida, The Iceman Cometh, Chicago, Side Show, Steel Pier. Film/TV credits: "Peter Pan Live!" (NBC), "The Sound of Music Live!" (NBC), It’s Complicated, Angels in America (Emmy-nominated), To Wong Foo... ... read more Graciela Daniele has earned 10 Tony Award nominations and six Drama Desk nominations. Her Broadway Director/ Choreographic credits include Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life, Annie Get Your Gun, Marie Christine, Once on This Island, Chronicle of a Death Foretold and Dangerous Game. She directed and choreographed Michael John LaChiusa’s Hello Again and Marie Christine and Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s Dessa Rose and The Glorious Ones (Lincoln Center). She has Musical Staged/ Choreographed Ragtime (Astaire, Ovation [L.A.], NAACP, and Callaway Award), The Goodbye Girl, Zorba with Anthony Quinn, The Rink starring Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera, and The Mystery of ... read more Scott has been designing lights for the entertainment industry since 1986. Theatre shows include Cabaret, Pippin, Grease, Gigi, Naughty Marietta, The Full Monty, Waiting for Godot, Hamlet, The Grapes of Wrath, Pantomime, Fences, A Raisin in the Sun, A Kwanza Song, Celebrations, The Importance of Being Earnest, Twelfth Night, Do Black Patten Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up, and the World Premiere of A Piece of my Heart. Scott toured for years doing jobs all the way from Vari Lite Tech to Production Designer. The concerts and touring shows either designed for or toured with include Marillion, Lou Rawls, Jeffry Osbourne, ... read more Jamie Gruber, better known by her stage name Jamie deRoy, is an American producer of Broadway plays, and a cabaret, stage, film and TV performer. She has co-produced 60 Broadway shows and 46 off-Broadway shows. ... read more Jim Donica is a bassist, composer, sideman, and bandleader who has performed and recorded with some of the finest artists in the world. He can be heard on landmark recordings such as Maynard Ferguson’s, “Big Bop Nouveau”; the soundtrack recording of ‘Permanent Record”, by Punk Rocker Joe Strummer and with MCA recording artists the David Becker Tribune, on “Long Peter Madsen” and “Siberian Express”. His long standing and ongoing gig as bassist for the legendary, Chita Rivera has taken him around the world playing for audiences who just can’t get enough of Broadway royalty. On Broadway, he’s held the bass chair ... read more Ms. Eisenhauer and collaborator Jules Fisherhave collectively been awarded Broadway’s Tony Award for Best Lighting Design of a Musical seven times, including Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins (2004, Revival), Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk (1996), Jelly’s Last Jam (1992), The Will Rogers Follies (1991), Grand Hotel (1990), Bob Fosse’s Dancin’ (1978), and Pippin (1973), and once for Best Lighting Design of a Play for Ulysses in Nighttown (1974). For motion pictures, Fisher and Eisenhauer designed theatrical lighting for Rob Marshall's Chicago, Mel Brooks' The Producers, Richard Linklater's School of Rock and Bill Condon's Dreamgirls, and Disney's live-action remake of ... read more In a celebrated career spanning almost 40 years, Jules Fisher has lit over 200 Broadway and off-Broadway shows, as well as film, ballet, opera, television, and rock-and-roll concert tours. He has received 18 Tony nominations and won 8 Tony awards for Lighting Design, a record in this category. His most recent project, "Assassins", (2004 Tony award) also won him the Drama Desk and Outer Critic's Circle awards. His previous Tony awards were for "Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk," 1996; "Jelly's Last Jam," 1992; "The Will Rogers Follies," 1991; "Grand Hotel," 1990; "Dancin'," 1978; "Ulysses in Nighttown," 1973; ... read more Highlights include Jerry Zaks' 1992 Guys and Dolls, The Boy From Oz starring Hugh Jackman, and Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life. As music director for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Hummel composed 3 songs for their 75th celebration in 2007. ... read more Broadway: Bernhardt/Hamlet; Come From Away; August Wilson’s Jitney; Amazing Grace; Lucky Guy; The Scottsboro Boys; Finian’s Rainbow; Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life; Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom; King Hedley II; One Mo’ Time; The Wild Party; Marie Christine; Footloose; The Tempest; Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992; Angels in America: Millennium Approaches & Perestroika; Chronicle of a Death Foretold; and Jelly’s Last Jam. Off-Broadway: The Public Theater, Playwrights Horizons, Second Stage, Soho Rep, Lincoln Center Theater, New York Theatre Workshop, Manhattan Theatre Club, and the Roundabout Theatre, among others. Regional: Berkeley Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Steppenwolf, Hartford Stage, Long Wharf Theatre, the ... read more Music Coordination for Broadway: The Book of Mormon, American Idiot, The Addams Family, Million Dollar Quartet, Memphis, Billy Elliot, Wicked, Mamma Mia, The Lion King; National Tour coordination: Les Misérables, Next To Normal, 9 to 5, Billy Elliot, In The Heights, Shrek, The Lion King, West Side Story, Wicked. Barbra Streisand Concerts (1994-2007). ... read more Lehrer's recent credits New York include Carousel; Hello, Dolly!; Illyria; The Front Page; The Gabriels; Shuffle Along…; Fiddler on the Roof; Dames at Sea; The King and I (also London); Living on Love; Honeymoon in Vegas; Edward Albee’s A Delicate Balance; Love Letters; A Raisin in the Sun; Betrayal; Lucky Guy; South Pacific (first Tony Award for Sound Design); Death of a Salesman; The Apple Family Plays: Scenes from Life in the Country; and over 60 City Center Encores! productions including Chicago. Recordings include An American in Paris (Grammy Award nomination), Loudon Wainwright’s High Wide and Handsome (Grammy Award), and ... read more Broadway: Rock of Ages, Spring Awakening (Tony Award), Legally Blonde, Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life, the upcoming Writing Arthur and I Love You Because (Off-Broadway). Emmy-Award-winning producing team of As the World Turns (’99-’06). ... read more Michael is very excited to join Jersey Boys on tour! Previous: NCL’s Jersey Boys (Nick Massi); National Tour: Dirty Dancing (Johnny Castle u/s), Legally Blonde (UPS Guy), Anything Goes First National (Ensemble). Off-Broadway/Vegas: Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man (Stefan). TV: “My Crazy Love Story” (Rico). Michael is also the creator of Shadow Star, a new mobile app that connects aspiring performing artists with Broadway Star mentors. ... read more Chase Mishkin produced several Broadway productions including Doctor Zhivago, Hands on a Hardbody, Equss, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and many more. ... read more Patrick Pacheco is an Emmy Award-winning TV commentator and arts journalist whose work has appeared The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, Esquire.com, Elle Décor, Art &Antiques, and several other periodicals. Formerly with NY1 “On Stage,” he now hosts the interview program, “Theater, All the Moving Parts,” on CUNY-TV. He wrote the 2009 Disney documentary Waking Sleeping Beauty and is the co-writer, with Maria Cassi, of the play, My Life with Men…and Other Animals which debuted at the Spoleto Festival, Italy and was adapted into an RAI Television special. His revision of the libretto of ... read more Credits include: Memphis, Xanadu; Chita Rivera, The Dancer's Life; Marie Christine; Scarlet Pimpernel; Triumph of Love; Victor/Victoria; The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public; Jelly's Last Jam; Me And My Girl; Singin' in the Rain; The Three Musketeers; Zorba; Marilyn; An American Fable; 42nd Street ('80 & 2001); Angel; and Shenandoah. ... read more Broadway credits: Rock of Ages, Legally Blonde, Brooklyn the Musical, Bombay Dreams. Scott’s film credits include Sympathy for Delicious (Mark Ruffalo, Orlando Bloom), Barry Munday (Patrick Wilson) and the upcoming Natalie Portman film Hesher. ... read more Credits: Once, The Book of Mormon, The Addams Family (Broadway and National Tour), Sister Act, Peter Pan (threesixty entertainment), The Mountaintop, Relatively Speaking, Man and Boy, Sons of the Prophet, An Evening with Patti and Mandy, and Stick Fly. Past projects include over 150 Broadway shows and their tours. Aurora Productions is Gene O'Donovan and Ben Heller with Stephanie Sherline, Jarid Sumner, Liza Luxenberg, Anita Shah, Rebecca Zuber, Steven Dalton, Eugenio Saenz Flores, Isaac Katzanek & Melissa Mazdra. ... read more Aldo Scrofani is a seasoned actor with an impressive resume in theater, film, and television. He was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and developed a passion for acting at a young age. He attended the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where he honed his craft and gained valuable experience. After graduating from high school, Scrofani began his professional acting career in theater. He made his Broadway debut in the original production of "A Chorus Line" in 1975, where he played the role of Don. The show was a massive hit and ... read more Danny Troob has arranged and orchestrated music for many Broadway shows over nearly 40 years. He has previously been nominated for Tonys for his work on Shrek the Musical (2009) and The Pajama Game (2006). His film work includes the movie of Newsies, among many others. ... read more