Chita

A Memoir

By: Chita Rivera

Narrated by: Chita Rivera

Read by the author

The long-awaited and wildly entertaining memoir of the star of stage and screen, the legendary Chita Rivera—three-time Tony Award–winner, Kennedy Centers honoree, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

She was born Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero—until the entertainment world renamed her. But Dolores—the irreverent side of the sensual, dark and ferocious Chita—was always present center stage, and was influential in creating some of Broadway most iconic and acclaimed roles, including Anita in West Side Story‚ the part that made her a star—Rosie in Bye Bye, Birdie, Velma in Chicago, and Aurora in Kiss of the Spider Woman.

Written in gratitude to her longstanding fans and with the hope that new generations may learn from her extraordinary experience, Chita takes us behind the curtain to reveal the highs and lows of one extraordinary showbusiness career—the creative fermentation, the ego clashes, the miraculous discoveries, the exhilaration when it all went right, and the disappointment when it all went wrong. Chita invites us into workrooms and rehearsal studies, on stage and on set as she works with some of the greatest talents of the age, including Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents, Stephen Sondheim, Bob Fosse, Jerome Robbins, Hal Prince, Liza Minnelli, Sammy Davis Jr, Gwen Verdon, Shirley MacLaine, and many others. We also learn deeply moving, revelatory details about her upbringing and her heritage, and how they indelibly shaped her work and career.

This colorful and entertaining memoir—as vital and captivating as Chita herself—is the unforgettable and engrossing personal story of a performer who blazed her own trail and inspired countless performers to forge their own unique path to success.

Chita

What a great story about a wonderful woman. She funny and experienced. You’re awesome Chita Rivera!

All

Loved all of it very real, very loving Clara to understand fantastic I'm extremely well grounded and optimistically encouraging

Great read

I totally enjoyed every minute. I was wonderful to hear Chita’s experiences of all the shows she was in. I saw almost every show she was in. Thank you Chita

“You, You, You” are the best!

What a joy, what a gift, what an amazing capstone to an inspiring, accomplished life. Kudos to Patrick Pacheco whose brilliance brings out the best, and to Chita for her fascinating and selfless life story. And icing on the cake to hear her brilliant, pitch perfect voice in one of the best ever audio books!

What a great woman!

I heard Chita being interviewed on the Len & Michael morning show a couple of weeks ago and I knew I had to learn more about this great entertainer! It was hard to believe she was 90 years old, Chita, you’ve had such a wonderful life. Your story held me captive from the first chapter to the last. Thank you for sharing your story with us.