BOOK BY FOUR-TIME TONY AWARD WINNER TERRENCE McNALLY

NEW SONGS BY TONY AWARD WINNERS LYNN AHRENS & STEPHEN FLAHERTY

DIRECTION & CHOREOGRAPHY BY GRACIELA DANIELE

COMES TO SEATTLE’S PARAMOUNT THEATRE
FEBRUARY 27 – MARCH 4, 2007

CHITA RIVERA IN THE ROLE SHE WAS BORN TO PLAY!

Newsweek hails her as "the greatest musical dancer ever!" Now, direct from Broadway, two-time Tony Award® winner Chita Rivera is coming to Seattle’s Paramount Theatre in a dazzling new musical that celebrates her astonishing career.

CHITA RIVERA: THE DANCER’S LIFE, a musical celebrating the life and career of one of America’s most beloved stage performers, is written by four time Tony Award-winner Terrence McNally, and directed and choreographed by Graciela Daniele.

This musical, featuring a cast of Broadway’s most talented singers and dancers, 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 created. CHITA RIVERA: THE DANCER’S LIFE is a magical tour through landmark creations in the American theatre that were helmed by some of the greatest talents in its history, including Jerome Robbins, Leonard Bernstein, Bob Fosse, Gower Champion and Michael Kidd and features new songs by the Tony Award-winning team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Along the way, Rivera and company will celebrate some of her most stunning and legendary Broadway performances – from West Side Story to Chicago to Kiss Of The Spider Woman.

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. She has received two Tony Awards, seven additional Tony nominations and the Kennedy Center Honor. Throughout her 50 year career, Chita has been referred to by critics as no less than “a force of nature” and a “true Broadway star.”

CHITA RIVERA: THE DANCER’S LIFE features scenic design by Loy Arcenas, costume design by Toni Leslie James, lighting design by Beverly Emmons based on the original design of Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, sound design by Duncan Robert Edwards and musical direction by Gordon N. Twist.

The performance schedule for the Seattle engagement of CHITA RIVERA: THE DANCER’S LIFE is as follows:

Tuesday, February 27 7:30pm
Wednesday, February 28 7:30pm
Thursday, March 1 7:30pm
Friday, March 2 8:00pm
Saturday, March 3 2:00pm and 8:00pm
Sunday, March 4 1:00pm (ASL-interpreted performance) and 6:30pm

Ticket prices for CHITA RIVERA: THE DANCER’S LIFE range from $22- $70 and go on sale Friday, January 26, 2007. Tickets will be available by calling 206-292-ARTS (2787), and at any Ticketmaster location (including Fred Meyer stores), or on-line at ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be available at The Paramount Theatre Box Office (Monday through Friday, 10am to 6pm), or BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.

CHITA RIVERA: THE DANCER’S LIFE is an offering of Fred Meyer Broadway Across America - Seattle, which is presented by arrangement with Seattle Theatre Group, and is coordinated by Broadway Across America - Seattle. Red Lion Hotel on Fifth Avenue is the official hotel of Broadway Across America - Seattle. Wells Fargo is the official bank, and American Airlines is the official airline.