Chita
A Memoir
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
“Chita Rivera blazed a trail where none existed so the rest of us could see a path forward.”—Lin-Manuel Miranda
“This deserves a standing ovation.”—Publishers Weekly
The wildly entertaining memoir of the legendary Chita Rivera—multi–Tony Award winner, Kennedy Center honoree, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
She was born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero—until the entertainment world renamed her. But Dolores—the irreverent side of the sensual, dark, and ferocious Chita—was always present and influential in creating some of Broadway’s most iconic roles, including Anita in West Side Story‚ Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie, Velma in Chicago, Aurora in Kiss of the Spider Woman, and Claire in The Visit.
Written in gratitude to her fans and with the hope that new generations may learn from her experience, Chita takes us backstage to reveal the highs and lows of one extraordinary show business career—the creative fermentation, the ego clashes, the miraculous discoveries. Chita invites us into the room with some of the greatest talents of the age, including Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents, Stephen Sondheim, John Kander, Fred Ebb, Bob Fosse, Jerome Robbins, Hal Prince, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Sammy Davis Jr., Gwen Verdon, Shirley MacLaine, and more.
This colorful memoir is the unforgettable story of a performer who blazed her own trail and inspired countless performers to forge their own paths to success.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this entertaining debut, actor/dancer Rivera provides a lively backstage glimpse of her seven-decade career. As an outlet for her childhood rambunctiousness, Rivera's mother enrolled her in ballet classes. She subsequently trained at the School of American Ballet, and though she always thought of herself as "more of a dancer than a Broadway musical star," Rivera was cast as the original Anita in West Side Story in 1957, and went on to perform in numerous productions, including Bye-Bye Birdie, Chicago, Mr. Wonderful, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and The Visit. "I do miss that girl, full of energy, agility, optimism, and hope," Rivera reminisces, and describes her attempts to hold onto her through milestones including her three Tony wins and receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. Rivera fondly recounts her memories with a touch of humor and a hint of the fire that characterizes the many roles she has portrayed on stage and screen; references to her less restrained alter ego "Dolores" (or as her daughter would say: "Mom goes Puerto Rican") are particularly charming. This deserves a standing ovation.
