Chita Rivera, the dynamic American singer, actress, and dancer, passed away last Tuesday, January 30th. She was 91.
In 1957, Rivera was catapulted to stardom when she created the role of Anita in the original Broadway production of West Side Story. Among the musical’s iconic moments was Rivera’s dazzling performance in the first act ensemble dance number, America. Later, she recalled the excitement of “watching Leonard Bernstein setting down notes that would later be heard and loved by everyone, and watching Jerome Robbins suddenly come up with a masterful step that we would later become known as an integral part of the performance.”
In 1960, she co-starred with Dick Van Dyke in Bye Bye Birdie, with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams. Rivera went on to collaborate with Bob Fosse in Chicago (1975), in the role of Velma Kelly.
Leonard Bernstein’s America unfolds with a dizzying alternation between simple and compound time. Stephen Sondheim, the show’s lyricist, recalled that West Side Story‘s first audiences were disturbingly reserved during the first act’s initial scenes. Only with the arrival of America, did the audience loosen up and realize they were in the musical theater. Here is America from the original cast recording of West Side Story:
Chita Rivera performed Spanish Rose from Bye Bye Birdie on The Ed Sullivan Show, shortly after the musical’s opening:
Featured Image: Chita Rivera and members of the original Broadway cast of “West Side Story” in 1957
Chita Rivera was a very talented actress. My prayers are with her family and friends.