Full Casting Announced for Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life
(Photo © Joseph Marzullo)
Full casting has been announced for the world premiere of Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life, which will play San Diego’s Old Globe Theater September 10-October 23, prior to an expected Broadway opening this fall. The production will feature direction and choreography by Graciela Daniele, and a book by four-time Tony Award winner Terrence McNally.
Joining Rivera on stage for this examination of her remarkable five-decade-long career will be Liana Ortiz as Young Chita, and a ten-member ensemble: Richard Amaro, Cleve Asbury, Lloyd Culbreath, Jasmine Perri, Madeleine Kelly, Malinda Farrington, Edgard Gallardo, Deidre Goodwin (who has played Rivera’s signature role of Velma Kelly in the Broadway revival of Chicago), Richard Montoya, Lainie Sakakura, Alex Sanchez, and Alllyson Tucker (aka Mrs. Brian Stokes Mitchell).
The show’s technical team will be made up of Loy Arcenas (set design), Toni Leslie James (costume design), Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer (lighting design), and Scott Lehrer (sound design). Mark Hummell will be musical director for the evening.
The Dancer’s Life takes a look at the creation of some of the greatest musicals in theater history, all of which featured Rivera, including West Side Story, Chicago, and Kiss of the Spider Woman. Rivera is the winner of two Tony Awards (for Kiss and The Rink), as well as six additional nominations. In 2002, she received the coveted Kennedy Center Honor.
Daniele, who began her career as a performer in such shows as Promises, Promises, Follies, and Chicago, has received 10 Tony nominations for direction, choreography and book. Her credits include Once on This Island, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, Marie Christine, Annie Get Your Gun, and Dessa Rose.
McNally has won Tony Awards for the plays Master Class and Love! Valour! Compassion! and for the books to the musicals Ragtime and Kiss of the Spider Woman. His many other notable plays include Corpus Christi, A Perfect Ganesh, and The Lisbon Traviata. His newest work, Dedication or the Stuff of Dreams officially opens on August 18 at Primary Stages.
