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Broadway Mourns Chita Rivera
January 30, 2024, 5:08.24 pm ET

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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.
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