After Chita Rivera died on January 30, 2024, aged 91, Rita Moreno remembered her as “the essence of Broadway” and “this remarkable woman and friend.” Moreno’s tribute, reported by The Daily Beast, reflected both Rivera’s stature as a Broadway performer and the connection between their portrayals of Anita in West Side Story.
What Rita Moreno said about Chita Rivera
In the tribute reported by The Daily Beast, Moreno wrote, “Chita Rivera is eternal” and called her “the essence of Broadway.” She ended with a personal toast: “As I write this, I am raising a glass to this remarkable woman and friend. Chita, amiga, Salud!” The published account conveys Moreno’s statement; these words are attributed to her through that reporting.
![West Side Story (50th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray] by 20th Century Fox](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41nAWVEHBbL._SL160_.jpg)
![West Side Story: 50th Anniversary Edition [2 Blu-ray + 1 DVD] (Bilingual)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ip4saUS+L._SL160_.jpg)
![West Side Story: 50th Anniversary Edition [2 Blu-ray + 1 DVD] (Bilingual)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51MPbGVvscL._SL160_.jpg)
How Rivera and Moreno were connected through West Side Story
Their clearest shared professional link was Anita. Rivera originated the role in the original Broadway production of West Side Story in 1957; Moreno played Anita in the 1961 film. Those were distinct productions, and their performances belong to different chapters of the musical’s history. The Broadway League’s memorial notice and The Daily Beast’s report both describe this connection.
The Daily Beast also reported that Moreno remembered first seeing Rivera in Mr. Wonderful and recalled that people sometimes mistook the two women for each other. Moreno’s tribute called Rivera a friend, but does not establish further details about their private relationship.
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Who Chita Rivera was on Broadway
Rivera’s Broadway career began in 1950 and spanned seven decades, according to the Broadway League. Its memorial notice names a long run of landmark roles, including Anita in West Side Story, Rose in Bye Bye Birdie, Velma Kelly in Chicago, and Aurora in Kiss of the Spider Woman. Later credits included The Visit in 2015.
The League reports that Rivera received 10 Tony nominations and won two competitive Tony Awards. It separately records her 2018 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement; that special honor is distinct from her two competitive wins.
Rivera’s death and Broadway’s memorial
Rivera died on January 30, 2024, at 91; her daughter announced her death, according to the Broadway League. In its 2024 notice, the League said Broadway marquees would dim for one minute at 7:45 p.m. on February 17, 2024, as a memorial. That observance was scheduled for that date and is not a current event.
Charlotte St. Martin, then president of The Broadway League, described Rivera as “Broadway royalty” and praised her work as an actor, singer, and dancer. The League’s account places the tribute in the context of a career that reached generations of theater audiences.
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![West Side Story Blu-ray [2022] [Region Free]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51cqp7AzwRL._SL160_.jpg)
- The disk has English audio and subtitles.
Further reading
Rivera’s memoir, Chita: A Memoir, is listed by the Juilliard Store as published by HarperOne. The retailer describes Rivera’s work in roles including Anita, Velma, and Aurora.
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