Chita Rivera in conversation with Laura Benanti
In-person – Thursday May 4 at 7 pm
Opening Night with Broadway's Chita Rivera
Succeed2gether's Montclair Literary Festival invites you to spend a captivating evening with Broadway legend and national treasure Chita Rivera, in conversation with celebrated stage and screen actress Laura Benanti. Chita will be live and in person talking about her long-awaited and entertaining memoir Chita: A Memoir on Thursday May 4 at 7 p.m.
Tickets to hear Chita Rivera in person cost $38 for one person/$55 for two, and include one pre-signed copy of the book Chita: A Memoir (value $30). Pre-signed books will be available to be picked up from Festival partner watchung booksellers after the book's publication on Tuesday April 25, 2023. Pre-signed books will also be available for collection at the event.
A theatrical icon and one of Broadway's greatest triple-threat talents, Chita Rivera is one of the most nominated performers in Tony Award history having earned 10 nominations, won twice and received the 2018 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. Her most recent Broadway starring roles include The Visit, the revival of The Mystery of Edwin Brood; The Dancer's Life, and the revival of Nine. She trained as a ballerina (from age nine) before receiving a scholarship to the School of American Ballet from the legendary choreographer George Balanchine. Her electric performance as Anita in the original Broadway premiere of West Side Story brought her international stardom. Her career is highlighted by starring roles in Bye Bye Birdie, The Rink (Tony Award), Chicago, Jerry's Girls, Kiss of the Spider Woman (Tony Award), and the original Broadway casts of Guys and Dolls, Can-Can, Seventh Heaven, Mr Wonderful. Chita was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom and the coveted Kennedy Center Honor; performed her solo concert at London's Cadogan Hall and Carnegie Hall. Her most treasured production is her daughter, singer/dancer/choreographer Lisa Mordente. Photo credit © Laura Marie Duncan.
Tony Award winner and five-time Tony Award nominee Laura Benanti is a highly celebrated stage and screen actress. Her television credits include Life & Beth, Younger, Gossip Girl, and the upcoming second season of HBO's The Gilded Age. She is widely known for her appearances as Melania Trump on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and she created the HBO Max special Homeschool Musical: Class of 2020, based on her viral social media movement #sunshinesongs. Her film credits include Worth, Here Today, and Tick, Tick...Boom!, and she is currently filming No Hard Feelings opposite Jennifer Lawrence and Matthew Broderick. Laura took Broadway by storm at the age of 18 as Maria in The Sound of Music, and has started in 10 more Broadway shows (musicals, straight plays, comedies and dramas). She also co-authored a comedic board book for mothers entitled M is for MAMA (and also Merlot): A Modern Mom's ABCs. Photo credit © Jenny Anderson.
Any proceeds from the festival benefit parent organization, Montclair-based non-profit Succeed2gether, which offers free after-school one-on-one tutoring and enrichment classes with the aim of closing the education and opportunity gaps in Essex County, NJ. You can read more about Succeed2gether and the festival at www.succeed2gether.org.
The festival organizing committee wishes to thank its event partners, festival sponsors, and community members. Our major sponsors are:
Please note that there are no refunds for this event. If you would prefer to pay by check, please contact Succeed2gether on 973-746-0553.
