![]() She later appeared on the revival's cast album. In 2003, Rivera returned to Broadway in the 2003 revival of Nine as Liliane La Fleur, and received her eighth career Tony Award nomination (Best Featured Actress in a Musical) and fourth Drama Desk Award nomination (Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical). In 2008 she appeared in a revised production of the musical at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia, co-starring George Hearn. Rivera starred in the Goodman Theatre production of the musical The Visit (also by Kander and Ebb) as Claire Zachanassian in 2001. In 1993, she received a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Aurora in the musical Kiss of the Spider Woman, written by Kander and Ebb. She appeared as Fastrada in a filmed-for-television version of the musical Pippin in 1981. It soon became a significant attraction for the after-theater crowds and remained open until 1994. In addition to her ballet instructors, Rivera credited Leonard Bernstein and Gwen Verdon, with whom she starred in Chicago, as being people from whom she learned a great deal. The eatery, located on 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenue, was named 'Chita's' after her. Miraculously revitalized, in 1988, she endeavored in a restaurant venture in partnership with the novelist, Daniel Simone. After rehabilitation, Rivera continued to perform on stage. Injuries sustained included the breaking of her left leg in twelve places, requiring eighteen screws and two braces to mend. In 1986, while performing in the Jerry Herman musical, Jerry's Girls, Rivera was in a severe accident when her car collided with a taxi on West 86th Street in Manhattan. In 1984 she starred in the musical The Rink with Liza Minnelli and won her first Tony Award for her role as Anna. In 1975 she appeared as Velma Kelly in the original cast of the musical Chicago. The Broadway-bound musical closed on the road. ![]() In 1963, Rivera was cast opposite Alfred Drake in Zenda. She won raves for her performance, but was passed over for the film version where the role was played by Janet Leigh. In 1960, Rivera created the role of Rose in the Broadway smash Bye Bye Birdie. Her performance was so important for the success of the show that the London production of West Side Story was postponed until she gave birth to the couple's daughter Lisa. On December 1, 1957, Rivera married dancer Tony Mordente. Rivera starred in a national tour of Can-Can and played the role of Nickie in the film adaptation of Sweet Charity with Shirley MacLaine. (The role would bring fame and an Oscar to another Puerto Rican, Rita Moreno, in the 1961 film version). In 1957, she was cast in the role which was destined to make her a Broadway star, the firebrand Anita in West Side Story. She followed this by landing roles in other Broadway productions such as Guys and Dolls and Can-Can. ![]() In 1951, Rivera accompanied a friend to the audition for the touring company of Call Me Madam and ended up winning the role herself. Rivera's audition was successful, and she was accepted into the school and given a scholarship. In 1944, Rivera's mother enrolled her in the Jones-Haywood School of Ballet (now the Jones Haywood School of Dance). Later, when she was 15, a teacher from George Balanchine's School of American Ballet visited their studio and Rivera was one of two students picked to audition in New York City she was accompanied to the audition by Doris Jones, one of the people who ran the Jones-Haywood School. Her father was Puerto Rican, and her mother was of Scottish and Italian descent. Rivera was seven years old when her mother was widowed and went to work at The Pentagon. Rivera was born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero in Washington, D.C., the daughter of Katherine (Anderson), a government clerk, and Pedro Julio Figueroa del Rivero, a clarinetist and saxophonist for the United States Navy Band.
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