Object Details
- Artist
- ADÁL, 1 Nov 1948 - 9 Dec 2020
- Sitter
- Chita Rivera, 23 Jan 1933 - 30 Jan 2024
- Exhibition Label
- Born Washington, D.C.
- An enduring Broadway icon, dancer, singer, and actress, Chita Rivera has been dazzling audiences since she set foot on the stage as principal dancer in Call Me Madam (19512, a role she accidentally snatched from a friend while accompanying her to an audition. She did chorus work in Guys and Dolls and in Can-Can in 1953 before soaring to fame as Anita in the 1957 Broadway premiere of West Side Story. Rivera originated the roles of Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie (1960), Velma in Chicago (1975), Anna in The Rink (1984), and Aurora in Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993). The latter two roles brought her Tony Awards. In 2015, she starred in the Tony-nominated musical The Visit. In 2002, Rivera became the first Latina to receive a Kennedy Center Honor; she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009. This photograph by ADÁL captures her as the Queen in Merlin (1983).
- Nacida en Washington, D.C.
- Chita Rivera, icono de Broadway, ha gozado de larga vigencia como bailarina, cantante y actriz, deslumbrando a los públicos desde que pisó por primera vez el escenario en 1952 como bailarina principal en Call Me Madam, papel que arrebató por accidente a una amiga, pues solo fue a la audición por acompañarla. En 1953 fue corista en Guys and Dolls y Can-Can antes de catapultarse a la fama en 1957 con el papel de Anita en el estreno de West Side Story en Broadway. Rivera originó los roles de Rosie en Bye Bye Birdie (1960), Velma en Chicago (1975), Anna en The Rink (1984) y Aurora en Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993). Los últimos dos le ganaron premios Tony. En 2015 protagonizó el musical The Visit, que recibió varias nominaciones para el Tony. Rivera fue la primera latina que obtuvo el Kennedy Center Honor (2002) y recibió la Medalla Presidencial de la Libertad en 2009. En esta foto de ADÁL aparece ataviada para el personaje de la reina en Merlin (1983).
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; acquisition made possible through the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center.
- 1984
- Object number
- NPG.2014.57
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Copyright
- ©1984 Adál
- Type
- Photograph
- Medium
- Gelatin silver print
- Dimensions
- Image: 18.9 × 19.1 cm (7 7/16 × 7 1/2")
- Sheet: 25.1 × 20.2 cm (9 7/8 × 7 15/16")
- See more items in
- National Portrait Gallery Collection
- Location
- Currently not on view
- National Portrait Gallery
- Topic
- Interior
- Costume\Headgear\Hat
- Home Furnishings\Mirror
- Chita Rivera: Female
- Chita Rivera: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Theater\Stage actor
- Chita Rivera: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Music\Musician\Singer
- Chita Rivera: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Television\Television actor
- Chita Rivera: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Dance\Dancer
- Chita Rivera: Civilian awards\Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Portrait
- Record ID
- npg_NPG.2014.57
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4efdf6983-5640-4292-b72d-8cbff7d75865
