Her daughter, Lisa Mordente, announced the death with no further details,accordingto theNew York Times.
AsVoguecontributorChristopher Barnardwrotein 2015, Riveras rise to the pinnacle of musical theater was by no means assured.
She soon ditched Lincoln Center Plaza for Times Square, and a principal dancers role inMadam.
Photo: Getty Images
Chita Rivera (second from right) as Anita inWest Side Story.
Debbie Allen, Leonard Bernstein, and Rivera at the Minskoff Theater in 1980.
In rehearsals forThe Rinkwith Liza Minnelli in 1983.
Chita Rivera (second from right) as Anita inWest Side Story.
Fifties Broadway was not what you would call progressive, he writes.
The racial tension and violence portrayed inWest Side Storywas playing out in real life just blocks uptown.
(Shed won her first almost a decade prior, for Kander and EbbsThe Rink.)
Debbie Allen, Leonard Bernstein, and Rivera at the Minskoff Theater in 1980.
Rivera performing inKiss of the Spider Woman.
In rehearsals forThe Rinkwith Liza Minnelli in 1983.
Rivera performing inKiss of the Spider Woman.
