The late Rivera originated the role of Anita in ‘West Side Story’ when it premiered on Broadway in 1957
Ariana DeBose is paying tribute to Chita Rivera.
During DeBose’s hosting stint at the 77th Tony Awards on Sunday, June 16, the Academy Award-winning actress performed a version of the late Rivera’s dancing in the original Broadway musical West Side Story.
During the show, DeBose, 33, introduced a special segment honoring the trailblazer. “In January, we lost one of the theater’s brightest lights: the irreplaceable Chita Rivera,” she said. Then, she introduced three Tony winners to help pay tribute: Bebe Neuwirth, Audra McDonald and Brian Stokes Mitchell.
Each mentioned a different one of Rivera’s iconic roles, including Rose in Bye, Bye Birdie, Velma Kelly in Chicago and Aurora in Kiss of the Spider Woman. Different dancers performed segments of the choreography from these shows.
“Chita redefined what it meant to be a Latina in show business,” Mitchell said. “She inspired generations of young women. If she could do it, they could do it. She’ll always be with us whenever artists recreate one of her dances or sings one of her songs.” McDonald noted that Rivera had “one of Broadway’s quintessential voices.”
DeBose returned to the stage in a purple dress to perform choreography from West Side Story. “I literally would not be here without Chita blazing the trail for all who follow,” she said. “Because of her, I am. Chita, from all of us, we will always love you!” She and an ensemble of dancers performed the iconic choreography from “America.”
Rivera, who died at age 91 on Jan. 30, originated the role of Anita in West Side Story when it first premiered on Broadway in 1957.
DeBose later won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2022 for portraying the same character in Steven Spielberg’s 2021 filmed adaptation of the story.
Rivera reprised her role as Anita as recently as March 2023, when she performed songs from West Side Story and throughout her career at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.
Her rep Merl Frimark announced Rivera’s death death on Jan. 30; the Broadway legend’s daughter Lisa Mordente, said at the time that her mother died in New York “after a brief illness.”
