Two-Time Tony Winner Chita Rivera, Best Known As Anita From 'West Side Story', Passes Away At 91
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Broadway icon Chita Rivera passed away on Tuesday at 91 after a brief illness, as reported by her daughter, Lisa Mordente. Riveria was best known as “Anita” from West Side Story when it premiered in 1957. Rivera was prolific in Broadway productions all through her life and danced in various Broadway musicals until 2015’s The Visit. In 1988, her right leg was crushed in a car accident, however, she gave no thought to the prospect of never dancing again. As Rivera once said of herself, she would not know what to do with herself if she was not dancing.
“I wouldn’t know what to do if I wasn’t moving or telling a story to you or singing a song,” she told The Associated Press then. “That’s the spirit of my life, and I’m really so lucky to be able to do what I love, even at this time in my life.”
Other people such as former Associated Press drama critic, Michael Kuchwara, discussed Rivera’s powerful presence on stage when reviewing her performance in the 1993 musical, Kiss of the Spider Woman:
“[Rivera] is more than a musical theater star. She’s a force of nature — which is exactly what is needed for the role of the Spider Woman. With her Louise Brooks haircut, brassy voice and lithe dancer’s body, Rivera dominates the stage whenever she appears.”
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Actress Kristin Chenoweth, best known for her role as the good witch, “Glinda”, in Broadway’s Wicked, currently being adapted for the silver screen, also spoke of her admiration for Rivera:
“I looked up to you and always will admire you as a talent and mostly as a person!” wrote Kristin Chenoweth on X. “A kick butt woman you were. All the rest of us just wanna be you.”
Over the years, Rivera racked up two Tony awards for her performances in The Rink (1984) and Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993). She also received Tony award nominations for several other Broadway productions, such as Bye Bye Birdie (1960), Chicago (1975), Bring Back Birdie (1981), Merlin (1993), Jerry’s Girls (1995), Nine (2003), and Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life (2005).
Rivera also had the distinction of having recorded two solo albums, in 1960 and 2009, and original cast recordings of 16 of her songs were included in Sony’s Legends of Broadway collection. Rivera also had a small role in the film adaptation of Chicago (2002). Additionally, she is credited with other onscreen performances and voiceovers over the years. Rivera also received other prestigious rewards in her lifetime, such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, which she was presented to her by former President Barack Obama in 2009. She also served as the marshal in the 2013 Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City.
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