Chita Rivera, the Tony Award-winning theatre icon whose career spans seven decades, will discuss her legendary career at William Paterson University in Wayne on Monday, October 30, 2023 as part of the 42nd season of the University’s Distinguished Lecturer Series.
The program, “A Conversation with Chita Rivera,” will be moderated by William Paterson University President Richard J. Helldobler, who holds a doctorate in theater and is an experienced dancer, choreographer, and theater director, and Robert Bannon ’10, a graduate of William Paterson University who is an actor, singer, and host of “The Roundtable” talk show on YouTube. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Shea Center for Performing Arts on campus.
A theatrical icon and one of Broadway's greatest triple-threat talents, Chita Rivera is one of the most nominated performers in Tony Award history having earned 10 nominations, and won twice, as Best Actress in a Musical for her roles in The Rink and Kiss of the Spider Woman. In 2018, she received a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.
A versatile actress/singer/dancer, her most recent starring roles include The Visit, the final John Kander/Fred Ebb/Terrence McNally musical directed by John Doyle and choreographed by Graciela Daniele on Broadway; the Broadway revival of The Mystery of Edwin Drood; the Broadway and touring productions of The Dancer’s Life, a dazzling musical celebrating her spectacular career, written by Terrence McNally and directed by Graciela Daniele and the revival of the Broadway musical Nine with Antonio Banderas.
Rivera trained as a ballerina from age nine before receiving a scholarship to the School of American Ballet from the legendary choreographer George Balanchine. Her first appearance, at age 19, was as a principal dancer in Call Me Madam. Her electric performance as Anita in the original Broadway premiere of West Side Story brought her stardom, which she repeated in London.
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), and the original Broadway casts of Guys and Dolls, Can-Can, Seventh Heaven and Mr. Wonderful. She performed in tours of Born Yesterday, The Rose Tattoo, Call Me Madam, Threepenny Opera, Sweet Charity, Kiss Me Kate, Zorba, and Can-Can with The Rockettes.
Rivera was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2009 and received the coveted Kennedy Center Honor in 2002. In 2019, Chita performed her solo concert at London’s Cadogan Hall; in 2018 she was honored as a Living Landmark by the New York Landmarks Conservancy; in 2016 she headlined at Carnegie Hall and in 2015, Great Performances aired their special Chita Rivera: A Lot of Livin’ To Do, a retrospective of her extraordinary life and career nationally on PBS. Her current solo CD is entitled And Now I Swing. Her long-awaited, critically acclaimed book Chita: A Memoir, was published by HarperOne in April 2023.
Tickets are $40 for Gold Circle seating, which includes a photo opportunity for the first 50 tickets buyers with the purchase of her new book, Chita: A Memoir. Tickets are $30 for Orchestra and Front Loge, and $20 for Rear Loge. Discounts are available for senior citizens and for William Paterson faculty, staff, and alumni. William Paterson students are eligible to receive one free ticket with a valid ID on the day of the event. Pre-autographed books will be available on site for purchase; Rivera will not do an in-person book signing.
William Paterson University’s Distinguished Lecturer Series is in its 42nd season of bringing leading personalities from the worlds of politics, government, the arts, literature, sports, science, and business, along with original programs, to the University’s campus in Wayne. In the four-decade history of the series, more than 175 public figures, including British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, journalist and activist Gloria Steinem, composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, actor and playwright Anna Deveare Smith, former New York Yankee and musician Bernie Williams, and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, have made presentations to 100,000 audience members.
To purchase tickets or for more information, please contact William Paterson University’s Shea Center Box Office at boxoffice@wpunj.edu, call 973.720.2371 or visit www.wp-presents.org.
William Paterson University
300 Pompton Road
Wayne, New Jersey 07470
973-720-2000
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