The Citiblog
Broadway Mourns Chita Rivera
January 30, 2024, 5:08.24 pm ET
Photo: Chita Rivera
Broadway is mourning the loss of the legendary dancer, singer and actress Chita Rivera, who died after a brief illness on January 30. She was 91 years old.
One of the theater’s most celebrated performers, Rivera won two Tony Awards, for “The Rink” and “Kiss of the Spider Woman.” She received a total of 10 nominations over her seven-decade career and a special Tony Award. Her many theater credits include “The Visit,” “Chicago,” “Nine,” “Sweet Charity,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” and “West Side Story.” She also appeared in the film version of “Sweet Charity.”
Rivera was also the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honor and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, among other awards. Rivera’s autobiography, “Chita: A Memoir,” written with journalist Patrick Pacheco, came out last year.
Tributes to Rivera poured into Facebook and other social media sites. Wrote producer Mark Cortale, who just opened the musical “Days of Wine and Roses”: “I adored you. I will always remember the love and encouragement you gave me so generously. You helped convince me that there was a place for me in theatre.”
Wrote famed musical director Michael Orland: “Chita Rivera was such an original and unparalleled talent - an actress, singer, dancer, who could do it all. loved her... I loved working with her… and when we got together my only goal was to crack her up.”
Added actor and playwright Charles Busch: “The word ‘indomitable’ seems to have been created to describe Chita Rivera. Inconceivable to imagine that she will no longer be dazzling us on this earth.”
Rivera is survived by her daughter Lisa Mordente and numerous other relatives.
OUR LATEST BLOG POSTS
![](https://cititour.com/NYC_News/photos/1una-pizza-napoletana-hometown-bbq-collab-dgle8y.jpg)
Around Town - BBQ-Pizza Collab, Olympic Gold, Kids Bash, Charlie Parker Jazz Fest and more
July 26, 2024, 7:51 pm ET
Chef Billy Durney of Hometown BBQ will join Chef Anthony Mangieri in the kitchen of Una Pizza Napoletana for a one night only collab. Together they will make a special pizza that will be featured al... READ MORE
![](https://cititour.com/NYC_News/photos/1broadway-barks-bernadette-peters-vopzjz.jpg)
Celebrity Guests Announced for Broadway Barks
July 26, 2024, 6:48 pm ET
Broadway Barks, the annual event aimed at finding forever homes for adoptable pets, will be held August 3rd in Shubert Alley from 3pm to 6:30pm. It will be hosted by Tony Award winners Bernadette Pe... READ MORE
![](https://cititour.com/NYC_News/photos/1billy-joel-ends-residency-at-the-garden-9jsrcg.jpg)
Billy Joel Ends Residency at Madison Square Garden after 150 Performances
July 26, 2024, 10:14 am ET
It’s the end of an era for the Piano Man. Singer Billy Joel ending his ending his 10-year residency at the Garden after 150 performances Thursday night. It comes nearly 50 years after his fi... READ MORE