theater

Chita Rivera's Biography

Date of birth: Jan. 23

Place of birth: Washington, D.C.

Education: Attended School of American Ballet (New York), school run by
George Balanchine; attended Taft High School (Bronx, N.Y.)

Relations: Father: Pedro Julio Figueroa (musician), died when Rivera
was 7years old; mother: Katherine Anderson del Rivero (government clerk),
died 1983; husband: Anthony Mordente (dancer, director), married on
Dec. 1, 1957; daughter: Lisa Mordente (choreographer)

Broadway debut: 1953 (Guys and Dolls)

Claim to fame: Rivera's most famous role is that of Anita, the fiery Latina from West Side Story, which she
created on Broadway in 1957.

Fun fact: Rivera has played occasional dramatic roles on television, including a memorable turn as the
sinister Mrs. Dame on an episode of the cult series The Outer Limits.

The Dancer's Life on Broadway

Written by four-time Tony winner Terrence McNally and featuring a
cast of 11, The Dancer's LIfe charts two-time Tony winner Chita
Rivera's amazing journey from aspiring ballerina to Broadway
legend.

In story and song, Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life is a magical
tour through landmark moments in the American theater that were
fashioned by some of the greatest talents in its history, including
Jerome Robbins, Leonard Bernstein, Bob Fosse, Gower
Champion, Michael Kidd, Harold Prince, and Kander & Ebb. The
production features new songs by the Tony Award-winning team of
Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.

Along the way, Rivera and company will celebrate some of her
most stunning and legendary Broadway performances—from West
Side Story to Chicago to Kiss of the Spider Woman.

For more information, visit www.thedancerslife.com.

Copyright 2006 Artsphoria

executive artistic director

Theater

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