EVAN AGOSTINI/INVISION/AP Chita Rivera, Star of 'West Side Story' and Latina Role Model, Passes Away at 91 1957 Broadway productio...

 

EVAN AGOSTINI/INVISION/AP

Chita Rivera, Star of 'West Side Story' and Latina Role Model, Passes Away at 91

1957 Broadway production of "West Side Story," passed away at 91 years old. Rivera's daughter confirmed her death in New York on Tuesday following a short illness, as conveyed in a statement to CBS News. Rivera, who paved the way for aspiring Latina performers on Broadway, received 10 Tony nominations and won twice. In 2018, she was presented with a special Tony Award recognizing her Lifetime Achievement in Theatre.

Chita Rivera may seem like she was immersed in Broadway from a young age, but that wasn't the case. Born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero in Washington, D.C., she once revealed during a Screen Actors Guild Foundation interview that she was actually a tomboy. She recounted how she used to drive her mother crazy with her boundless energy. In an effort to channel her exuberance, her mother enrolled her in ballet classes, a decision for which Rivera expressed gratitude.

Rivera's dedication to ballet led to her receiving a full scholarship to the School of American Ballet in New York. However, her trajectory shifted when she accompanied a friend to an audition for the touring production of the Broadway show "Call Me Madam" and landed the role. This marked her transition from ballet to Broadway. In 1957, she achieved her breakthrough portraying Anita in "West Side Story," which featured music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

Reflecting on the experience during an interview with NPR in 2007 for the musical's 50th anniversary, Rivera expressed her excitement upon hearing the rhythm of "America." She described it as "mind-boggling" and eagerly anticipated the challenge. As a Latina, she found the music to be welcoming and embraced the opportunity to take on the role.

In 2002, Rivera made history as the first Latina to receive the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors, recognizing her lifetime achievements in the performing arts. Her contributions to the field were further acknowledged in 2009 when then-President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, citing her as an "agent of change" for her impactful work.

"Chita Rivera is eternal," Moreno shared on Instagram. "I recall the first time I saw her in Mr. Wonderful and exclaimed, 'Oh my god, who IS that'? Discovering that this astonishing creature was one of my own filled me with pride."

"Throughout the years, we were occasionally mistaken for each other, which I always considered a badge of honor," she added. "She epitomized Broadway. As I pen this, I raise a glass to this extraordinary woman and friend. Chita, my friend, Cheers!"