BOSTON, MA – The Boston Youth MovesÂ’ ProducersÂ’ Circle announces the 2012 Swellegance Gala Benefit will present two-time Tony Award winner CHITA RIVERA performing songs from her legendary Broadway career in her own concert CHITA RIVERA: MY BROADWAY at the Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont Street, Boston on Friday May 4, 2012 (8pm). All proceeds will go
to Boston Youth Moves. Tickets are $45 -$80 or $250 for Special VIP premium tickets including performance and admission to the After Party with the Stars with Ms. Rivera at the Four Seasons Hotel All tickets are available by calling 866.348.9738, online at, online at www.citicenter.org or in person at
the Citi Performing Arts Center Box Office Tuesday-Saturday 12pm-6pm.
Ms.Rivera will be accompanied by a 6-piece orchestra, led by musical director Michael Croiter, and will perform selections from her most celebrated musicals, including numbers from West Side Story («America»), Sweet Charity («Where Am I Going?» and «Big Spender»), Chicago («All That Jazz» and «Nowadays»), Kiss of the Spider Woman, Bye, Bye, Birdie and The Rink, and featuring the music of Leonard Bernstein, John Kander & Fred Ebb, Charles Strouse, Stephen Sondheim and Cy Coleman among others.
According to Boston Youth Moves Co-Director Jeanette Neill, «We are honored for the opportunity to share this living legend, Chita Rivera, with Boston. Chita’s generosity and commitment to fostering the next generation of young artists has led to this extraordinary ONE NIGHT ONLY performance to benefit Boston Youth Moves and we couldn’t be more thrilled!» Now in itÂ’s 12th year, Swellegance is the embodiment of fun and sophistication. ItÂ’s an evening of smart cocktails, swell people and sophisticated entertainment that has rapidly become one of the major events in the city of Boston. Boston Youth Moves (BYM) is a non-profit, after school arts education program whose mission is to encourage young people, through training in the art of dance, to explore their limitless potential for artistic expression and realize personal success. Begun in 1990 by Jim Viera and Jeannette Neill, BYM offers superlative dance training to teens in the Boston and greater Boston area and provides subsidized tuition for its students and offers scholarships and financial aid to students in need.
CHITA RIVERA is an accomplished and versatile actress, singer and dancer who has won two Tony Awards as Best Leading Actress in a Musical (Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Rink) and received seven additional Tony nominations. She starred in the Broadway and touring productions of The DancerÂ’s Life, a dazzling new musical celebrating her spectacular career, written by Terence McNally and directed by Graciela Daniele. She recreated her starring role in The Visit, the new Kander/Ebb/McNally musical at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA (originally done at the Goodman Theatre, Chicago in 2001). She also starred in the revival of the Broadway musical Nine with Antonio Banderas. She trained as a ballerina (from age 11) before receiving a scholarship to the American School of Ballet from legendary George Balanchine. ChitaÂ’s first appearance (age 17) was in the chorus of Call Me Madam. Her electric performance as Anita in the Broadway premiere of West Side Story (1957) brought her stardom, which she repeated in London. Her career is highlighted by starring roles in Bye Bye Birdie, The Rink (Tony
Award), Chicago, JerryÂ’s Girls, Kiss of the Spider Woman (Tony Award), and the original Broadway casts of Guys and Dolls, Can-Can, Seventh Heaven and Mr. Wonderful. On tour: Born Yesterday, The Rose Tattoo, Call Me Madam, Threepenny Opera, Sweet Charity, Kiss Me Kate, Zorba, Can-Can with The Rockettes. Chita was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama on August 12, 2009. She received the coveted Kennedy Center Honor in Washington, DC in December, 2002 and is the first Hispanic ever chosen to receive this award. Chita has recorded and released a new
