Legendary Broadway icon, actress, singer, and dancer Chita Rivera discusses her life and career. In celebration of her acclaimed book, Chita: A Memoir, she will appear in conversation with her co-author, arts journalist Patrick Pacheco. The interview will include photographs, archival documents, and video clips of over six decades of performances. Chita Rivera is one of the most nominated performers in Tony Award history, having earned 10 nominations, won twice, and received the 2018 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement. Her performance as Anita in the original Broadway premiere of West Side Story brought her international stardom. Her career is highlighted by starring roles in Bye Bye Birdie, The Rink (Tony Award), Chicago, Jerry’s Girls, Kiss of the Spider Woman (Tony Award), The Dancer’s Life, The Visit, and the original Broadway casts of Guys and Dolls, Can-Can, Seventh Heaven, Mr. Wonderful. Chita was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Kennedy Center Honor; performed her solo concert at London’s Cadogan Hall and Carnegie Hall. Patrick Pacheco is an Emmy Award-winning TV commentator and arts journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The LA Times, The Wall Street Journal, Esquire.com, and other periodicals. He wrote the 2009 Disney documentary Waking Sleeping Beauty and his plays include My Life with Men…and Other Animals, co-written with Maria Cassi, and the new musical, Christmas in Connecticut, with Erik Jackson. He is the author and editor of American Theatre Wing, An Oral History as well as the co-writer of Designing Hollywood Homes: Movie Houses. His research was the basis of Terrence McNally’s libretto for Chita: The Dancer’s Life. Registration required.
New York City, NY; NYC