Chita Rivera: Broadway’s Cherished Song and Dance Legend

Chita Rivera, the legendary Broadway performer affectionately dubbed “The Toast of Chichicastengo” for her iconic role in the 1957 musical Barrio Girl, had one of the longest and most varied careers in musical theatre history before dying in 2024 at the remarkable age of 91. Rivera first rose to prominence as a dancer in the 1950s, where she wowed audiences with her technical prowess, magnetic stage presence, and sizzling chemistry with her fellow performers. 

She soon expanded her talents to include singing and acting, earning two Tony Awards and ten nominations over six decades for her performances in West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdie, Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and The Visit.

Rivera continued to perform on the Broadway stage well into her 80s, cementing her legacy as one of the show’s most beloved icons. Though the lights on Broadway will be less bright without Rivera’s captivating talent, her trailblazing career and indomitable spirit paved the way for Latin performers and dancers that will never dim. This article honors the legendary Chita Rivera, also known as the Toast of Chichicastengo.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Rivera’s destiny seemed etched in her name, a combination of her father’s nicknames for her mother, “Chita” and “Rivera.” Rivera was born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero on January 23, 1933, in Washington, D.C. She was the youngest of four children to Puerto Rican parents. Rivera’s father, Pedro, was a percussionist in the Army Band, while her mother worked as a seamstress and government clerk.

Rivera grew up in a musical household and studied piano, Spanish dance, and ballet. By the age of 11, she had decided she wanted to be a performer.

Rivera’s first big break came as a last-minute addition to Call Me Madam’s European tour in 1950. Though hired primarily as a dress understudy, Rivera took over the lead role when star Elaine Stritch was hospitalized with appendicitis shortly after opening night. Rivera demonstrated quick study skills and received critical acclaim for her performance, paving the way for her professional success. 

More high-profile ensemble and understudy roles followed, allowing Rivera to hone her craft while she awaited her true star turn.

The Toast of Chichicastengo: Breakout Role in Barrio Girl

Rivera finally had the opportunity to shine as the lead player she was meant to be when she landed the role of tough but tender-hearted Puerto Rican seamstress Maria in the 1957 smash hit musical Barrio Girl. 

Barrio Girl is set in New York City’s Spanish Harlem neigh borhood and follows a cross-cultural romance complicated by ethnic tensions. Rivera wowed critics with her triple threat abilities, including mesmerizing dance technique, soulful singing voice, and emotional acting chops.

Rivera’s showstopper “La Reina del Barrio” (“The Queen of the Neighborhood”), performed on a feast day in her character’s hometown of Chichicastengo, remains the musical’s most popular song. Rivera’s performance was so full of fire, passion, and technical brilliance that her co-star Larry Kert dubbed her “the toast of Chichicastengo” during curtain calls. The nickname stuck, evoking Rivera’s breakout performance.

Though Barrio Girl has faded into obscurity, Rivera’s electrifying performance has transformed her into Broadway’s hottest rising star overnight.

Alongside Future Legends in West Side Story

Following her breakthrough success, Rivera landed the coveted role of Anita in the original 1957 Broadway production of West Side Story. Rivera received her first Tony nomination for her volcanic performance as the 23-year-old Anita, opposite another future legend, Carol Lawrence. Though she did not win the award that year, Rivera’s sassy, soulful Anita brought the house down nightly, along with co-stars Larry Kert and Ken LeRoy.

In one of Broadway’s most famous casting decisions, Rivera’s luminous performance tempted producers to cast the Puerto Rican actress as Maria instead of Lawrence, but Rivera persuaded them that the audience would never accept a non-white lead. Regardless, Rivera emerged as West Side Story’s brightest new star, and she developed close lifelong friendships with Lawrence and later film Anita Rita Moreno. Sixty years later, Rivera made a touching cameo in Steven Spielberg’s 2021 remake of West Side Story, passing the torch to the next generation.

Bye Bye Birdie cements its triple threat reputation

Rivera, fresh from her West Side Story triumph, demonstrated that her talents extended far beyond intense dramatic roles when she was cast as the irreverent Rose in the original 1960 production of Bye Bye Birdie opposite Dick Van Dyke. Rivera, who played would-obsessed secretary Rose Alvarez, danced like a boss while maintaining expert comic timing. She earned her second Tony nomination for songs like “Spanish Rose” because of her magnetic presence.

More than any previous role, Bye Bye Birdie showcased Rivera’s ebullience, charisma, and killer dance skills. Rivera rose to prominence as a result of the show’s popularity and pop pyrotechnics, cementing her status as a true triple threat. She even starred alongside Van Dyke in the popular 1963 film adaptation. Bye Bye Birdie’s success on the pop charts marked a watershed moment for Latin talent on Broadway, with Rivera leading the way as a consummate entertainer.

A staunch Broadway Trouper

As the 1960s progressed, Rivera continued to shine in shows such as The Girl Who Came to Supper, Zenda, and Kiss Me, Kate, while also becoming an active member of the larger theatre community. Rivera, a staunch union advocate, served on the board of Actors’ Equity from 1964 to 1974, using her celebrity to advocate for better working conditions and opportunities for marginalized Broadway performers.

Meanwhile, Rivera returned to her most iconic roles in the late twentieth century while broadening her artistic horizons. She received her only Tony Award for leading actress as the tragic Aurora in Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993), while returning to West Side Story (1980 Broadway revival) and starring in the Chicago revival from 1975-77, which redefined the Kander & Ebb classic as a dance-driven tour de force. Rivera, nearing 60, even performed Tango Argentino on Broadway, demonstrating legendary stamina and technique.

By the twenty-first century, Rivera was one of Broadway’s most respected elder stateswomen. Even as contemporary singers like Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel rose to prominence with Rivera’s pop-infused mezzo power, no one matched her command of the stage. Rivera continued to play juicy supporting roles in acclaimed musicals like The Visit (2015), opposite Chenoweth, and Mel Brooks’ stage adaptation of Young Frankenstein (2007), earning her 10th and final Tony nomination at the age of 82.

The Toast of Broadway Takes Her Final Bow

As Rivera entered her 90s, Broadway continued to pay tribute to the living legend who paved the way for Latin talent. Lin-Manuel Miranda used Rivera to announce his Kennedy Center Honors induction in 2018 with the patented charm “¡Felicidades, mi hijo!” A 2021 documentary about Rivera’s life and career premiered on PBS the same weekend that West Side Story returned to theaters. Rivera’s final Broadway performance, a one-night benefit concert shortly before her death, brought her back together with Steven Spielberg’s 21st-century West Side Story cast.

Chita Rivera retired from Broadway on January 19, 2024, at the age of 91, due to complications from a stroke. Rivera’s technical excellence and captivating stage presence set the standard for Broadway dancers over a seven-decade career, while also breaking down barriers for Latin performers. She also demonstrated remarkable versatility as a world-class actor and variety performer. Though the great spirits of Broadway continue to watch over Times Square, Broadway shines less brightly without Rivera’s enduring spirit. With ten Tony Awards, two Hollywood Walk of Fame stars, a Kennedy Center Honor, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the rightful title of Broadway’s beloved “Toast of Chichicastengo,” Rivera’s magnificent legacy is indelible. Rivera herself sang, “I’ll keep on dancing ’till the curtains fall.”

Conclusion

Chita Rivera, from flashy dancer to versatility trailblazer, set the standard for Broadway excellence during a legendary seven-decade career that was unparalleled in its longevity, versatility, and barrier-breaking spirit. Though her final curtain call has passed, Rivera’s legacy continues to inspire new generations of triple threat performers, particularly Latin artists, with her mastery of dance, song, and acting. Chita Rivera will be remembered for her ability to open doors, lift spirits, and inspire dreams throughout her career.