Admitting she’s “not mad for” the 1961 movie, in which Rita Moreno was cast as Anita, Rivera said of Spielberg, “If there’s anybody that can do it, I believe he can, because he’s always dedicated to doing excellent work. “When I’m not doing something regularly — and that to me means working every day — I watch too much television,” Rivera said. “A couple of months ago, I was talking like this,” she said, lowering her already dusky sub-alto to a basso rasp. The musical theater veteran, 86, will nod at her signature roles in new performances at Feinstein’s/54 … (L-R) John Kander, Chita Rivera, Fred Ebb. President Obama quipped that Rivera, born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero, “knows the adversity that comes with a difficult name.” She releases solo studio album, And Now I Swing. But then, what do you do with Jerome Robbins’s steps?” (The man who conceived the musical and directed and choreographed the original stage production was fired while working on the first film; the ballet wunderkind and Tony winner Justin Peck, who worked on the 2018 screen thriller “Red Sparrow,” is choreographing the new one.). Among the honorees, Rivera and actor Sidney Poitier are the only artists. Brent Carver and Anthony Crivello co-starred. But She Never Stops Marching Forward. Chita Rivera: A Lot of Livin’ to Do airs on Great Performances: The musical opened the Mandalay Bay Hotel and was the first full-length, two-act show in Las Vegas. The young man, maybe in his early 30s, pretended not to stare at the striking woman who had just stepped into the elevator. 1954: After its opening on Broadway, Rivera is cast in the Abe Burrows Broadway musical Can-Can, with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and choreography by Michael Kidd. 1952: At age 19 she is cast in chorus of her first national tour — Call Me Madam starring Elaine Stritch. Ben Vereen, Chita Rivera at The Drama League’s gala salute to Liza Minnelli, Jan. 31, 2000. 2003: Nominated for Tony for her performance in Broadway revival of Nine, which also stars Antonio Banderas, Laura Benanti, Jane Krakowski, Mary Stuart Masterson among others. Wonderful on Broadway. (Rivera performs “Carousel” from the revue in this web-exclusive footage from Chita Rivera: A Lot of Livin’ to Do.). They were an amazing couple, and they produced so much wonderful stuff, but today all they want is dirt.”, Rivera is more bullish on, if anxious about, prospects for Steven Spielberg’s new film adaptation of “West Side Story,” which is due next year. Opens West Side Story in London’s West End, reprising her role of Anita. Creative team includes playwright Terrence McNally and director/choreographer Graciela Daniele, both of whom are interviewed in Chita Rivera: A Lot of Livin’ to Do. At 86, Chita Rivera has yet to endure that career phase Stephen Sondheim identified in “I’m Still Here” as, “Sorry, I thought you were whoozis/Whatever happened to her?” Heading into an office above the cabaret venue Feinstein’s/54 Below, where she’ll begin a string of performances on Monday, the musical theater veteran walked with a classical dancer’s line, still suggesting the grace and fire that secured her breakout role as Anita in the original production of “West Side Story,” one of numerous plum parts she has introduced over more than six decades. And maybe this wonderful Jewish man can do it. Chita Rivera in West Side Story. The show is directed by Bob Fosse with music by Kander and Ebb. “Big fan,” he managed before darting off, a star-struck grin on his face.

Her father hailed from Puerto Rico and her mother was American and Scottish. Subscribe to the Great Performances Newsletter, More From Chita Rivera: A Lot of Livin’ to Do (5), Clip | “Carousel” from Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, Clip | Chita Rivera and Liza Minnelli in The Rink, Clip | “Nowadays” from Chicago the Musical, Chita Rivera: A Lot of Livin’ to Do - Preview, Chita Rivera Biography and Career Timeline. Fri., Nov. 6 at 9 pm on PBS (check local listings). “It’s not brand-new, because my life’s not brand-new,” she said of the show.

1956: Co-stars with Sammy Davis Jr. in Mr.