Chita Rivera

Chita Rivera is an American actress, dancer, and singer best known for her roles in musical theater. A recipient of the prestigious Kennedy Center honor, Chita has won two Tony Awards as Best Leading Actress in a Musical and has received six additional Tony Award nominations. Her most notable roles include Anita in West Side Story, Velma Kelly in Chicago, Anna in The Rink, Rosie Alvarez in Bye Bye Birdie, and Charity in Sweet Charity, to name a few. Rivera has starred in film roles as well and appeared in the television version of the musical Pippin as Fastrada.  In 1993, she received a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Aurora in the Tony-award winning musical Kiss of the Spider Woman written by Kander and Ebb.  In 2003, Rivera returned to Broadway in the 2003 revival of Nine as Liliane La Fleur, and received her eighth career Tony Award nomination (Best Featured Actress in a Musical) and fourth Drama Desk Award nomination (Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical).

She recently starred in the Broadway and touring productions of The Dancer’s Life, a dazzling new musical celebrating her spectacular career, written by Terence McNally and directed by Graciela Daniele. Chita was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama on August 12, 2009. She received the coveted Kennedy Center Honor in Washington, DC in December, 2002, and is the first Hispanic ever chosen to receive this award.  In November 2009, Rivera released a highly praises  album titled, And Now I Swing .