Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life to close on the 19 Feb 2006

Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life, a musical celebrating the life and career of one of America's most beloved stage performers, will play its final performance on the 19 Feb 2006, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. The musical had been booking to the 11 Jun 2006.

The show, which opened on the 11 Dec 2005 following previews from the 23 Nov, will have played 20 previews and 72 regular performances.

Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life celebrates the life and career of Chita Rivera, one of America's most beloved stage performers. This musical offers its audience a rare look into that moment when great musical numbers in the theatre were born, as related and performed by the woman for whom they were written.

As an aspiring 17-year-old ballerina, Chita Rivera decided to accompany a friend to an audition for the chorus of Call Me Madam without any serious intention of pursuing a part in the show. Jerome Robbins took one look, cast her as a principal dancer, and the rest is theatre history.

The musical is written by four time Tony Award-winner Terrence McNally, with music and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. The show is directed and choreographed by Graciela Daniele.

Starring Chita Rivera the cast also features Richard Amaro, Cleve Asbury, Lloyd Culbreath, Madeleine Ehlert, Malinda Farrington, Edgard Gallardo, Deidre Goodwin, Richard Montoya, Liana Ortiz, Lainie Sakakura, Alex Sanchez and Allyson Tucker-Mitchell.

Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life features scenic design by Loy Arcenas, costume design by Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer and sound design by Scott Lehrer. Musical direction is by Mark Hummel.

The musical is produced on Broadway by West Egg Entertainment, The Producer Circle Co., Chase Mishkin and Stage Ventures III; with Marty Bell and Aldo Scrofani as Executive Producers.