Chita Rivera - Biography

Last Editor: chanellel				Chita Rivera Biography -   Name : Chita Rivera Profession : Actress Birth Details : born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero on January 23, 1933 in Washington, D.C. Birth name : Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero Personal quotes : "I don't see the camaraderie [on Broadway] as much anymore. Everyone wants to be a soloist before really learning how to relate. When you can rela Spouse : Tony Mordente (1 December 1957 - ?) (divorced) 1 child Trade mark : Jet Black Hair

Chita Rivera Trivia -

Achieved her first fame on Broadway in 1957, portraying Anita in West Side Story. Daughter of the late Puerto Rican musician Pedro del Rivero, and his wife, Katherine. Mother of actress Lisa Mordente. Chita Rivera is the 2002 John F. Kennedy Center Honors recipient. Her father was Puerto Rican, and her mother was of mostly Scottish extraction. Played a character called "Nickie" in both Chicago (2002) and Sweet Charity (1969). Played "Rosie" in the original Broadway production of "Bye Bye Birdie" (early 1960s), opposite Dick Van Dyke ("Albert"), in a cast which also included Paul Lynde, Michael J. Pollard, and Dick Gautier. As of 2003, she has won 2 Tony Awards out of a total of 8 nominations for her work in Broadway musicals. Was the first ever Latin-American to receive the Kennedy Honors Award. Has won two Tony Awards as Best Actress (Musical): in 1984 for "The Rink," and in 1993 for "Kiss of the Spider Woman--The Musical." And she has earned six additional nominations: one as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Musical) in 1961 for "Bye, Bye Birdie;" four additional Best Actress (Musical) entries, in 1976 for "Chicago," in 1981 for "Bring Back Birdie," in 1983 for "Merlin," and in 1986 for "Jerry's Girls;" and one as Best Actress (Featured Role - Musical) in 2003 for "Nine The Musical!" This is a total of eight nominations, making her the most nominated actress in Tony history. Has won two Tony Awards as Best Actress (Musical): in 1984 for "The Rink," and in 1993 for "Kiss of the Spider Woman--The Musical." And she has earned six additional nominations: one as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Musical) in 1961 for "Bye, Bye Birdie;" four additional Best Actress (Musical) entries, in 1976 for "Chicago," in 1981 for "Bring Back Birdie," in 1983 for "Merlin," and in 1986 for "Jerry's Girls;" and one as Best Actress (Featured Role - Musical) in 2003 for "Nine The Musical!" This is a total of eight nominations, making her the second most nominated actress in Tony history (after Julie Harris, who has ten). Originated two roles on Broadway which would later win Oscars for the actresses playing them in the film versions. Rita Moreno in "West Side Story", and Catherine Zeta-Jones in "Chicago".

Chita Rivera Detailed Biography -

Chita Rivera - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import "/skins-1.5/monobook/IE50Fixes.css"; @import "/skins-1.5/monobook/IE55Fixes.css"; @import "/skins-1.5/monobook/IE60Fixes.css"; @import "/skins-1.5/monobook/IE70Fixes.css?1"; /**/ Your continued donations keep Wikipedia running! Chita Rivera From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Chita Rivera (born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero on January 23, 1933 in Washington, D.C.) is a Broadway musical actress and dancer of Puerto Rican heritage, and the first Hispanic woman to receive a Kennedy Center Honors award. Chita Rivera at the Tony Awards Her father was from Puerto Rico; he played clarinet and saxophone for the Navy band. Chita's mother, Katherine Figueroa, went to work for The Pentagon when Chita was seven years old and her father passed away; Chita's mother herself passed away in 1983. In 1944, Chita's mother enrolled her in the Jones-Hayward School of Ballet. Later, when Chita was 15, a teacher from George Balanchine's School of American Ballet visited their studio and Chita was one of two students picked to audition in New York City; she was accompanied to the audition by Doris Jones, one of the people who ran the Jones-Hayward School. Chita's audtion was successful and she was accepted into the school and given a scholarship by George Balanchine. Among her new teachers were Allegra Kent and Maria Tallchief. In 1952, Chita accompanied a friend to the audition for a Broadway production of Call Me Madam and herself ended up winning the role. She followed this by landing further roles in other Broadway productions, such as: Guys and Dolls Can-Can Seventh Heaven Mr. Wonderful (with Sammy Davis Jr.) Besides her ballet instructors, Chita considered that she learned a lot from Leonard Bernstein, and especially from the late Gwen Verdon, with whom she participated in the Broadway production of Chicago. In 1957, Chita was cast in the role which was destined to make her a Broadway star - the firebrand "Anita" in the Broadway premiere of West Side Story. Years later the role of Anita was to bring fame and an Oscar to another Puerto Rican, Rita Moreno, in the film version. On December 1, 1957, Rivera married dancer Tony Mordente. Her performance was so important for the success of the show that the London production was posponed until after Chita gave birth to the couple's daughter, Lisa. Chita also starred in the Broadway productions of: Bye Bye Birdie, Born Yesterday, The Rose Tattoo, Call Me Madam, The Rink, Threepenny Opera, Sweet Charity, Kiss Me, Kate, Kiss of the Spider Woman and Zorba. She also went on a national tour with Can-Can. and played the role of Nicky in the movie version of Sweet Charity with Shirley MacLaine. In 1986, Rivera was in a severe accident when her car collided with a taxi on West 86th Street in Manhattan. Injuries sustained included the breaking of her left leg in 12 places places, requiring 18 screws and two braces to mend. After rehabilitation, Rivera continued to perform on stage. Rivera is regarded by many theatre aficiandos as a "living legend" and indeed "In Theatre" magazine has suggested in an interview by Goerge Horsfall: " You must be tired of the term "legend", but let's get it out of the way. You have long been considered a Broadway legend."" Rivera replied "Oh, God!" and laughed (See reference below "Chita a Go-Go" for quote). Rivera received two Tony Awards and six additional nominations. She received her first Tony in 1984 for her role in The Rink and her second for Best Leading Actress in a Musical in 1993 for her role in Kiss of the Spider Woman. In 2002 Chita Rivera became the first female Hispanic to receive the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors award presented by U.S. President George W. Bush, recognizing her contributions to U.S. culture. On November 23, 2005, Chita Rivera began previews on Broadway of "A Dancer's Life," a retrospective of her career. The play opened on Broadway on December 11, 2005 and is planning to close on February 19th, 2006. List of famous Puerto Ricans