New Dramatists to Present Chita Rivera with Career Achievement Award, May 18

Broadway legend Chita Rivera will receive New Dramatists' 2006 Career Achievement Award on Thursday, May 18th at the New York Marriott Marquis (1535 Broadway, between 45th and 46th Streets).

The New Dramatists' 57th annual spring luncheon will commence with a champagne reception at 11:15 AM and will end at 2:30 PM.

Samuel "Biff" Liff of the William Morris Agency is the Chairperson for the event. Honorary chairs for the event include Shubert Organization/Gerald Schoenfeld & Philip J. Smith; Disney Productions/Thomas Schumacher, Creative Artists Agency/George Lane; and Lily Tomlin & Jane Wagner.

Rivera has been a consistent and dynamic presence on Broadway for over half a century. She most recently starred in the New York-bound Kander and Ebb musical The Visit at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Rivera is a two-time Tony Award winner for The Rink and Kiss of the Spiderwoman, and also received nods for her performances in Nine (her most recent Broadway appearance), Jerry's Girls, Merlin, Bring Back Birdie, the original production of Chicago and Bye Bye, Birdie. Rivera originated the role of Anita in West Side Story, and has also been seen on Broadway in Can-Can, Mr. Wonderful, Shinbone Alley and Bajour, as well as in touring productions of Pippin and Sweet Charity. Rivera is a 2002 Kennedy Center Honoree.

Past luncheon honorees have included Meryl Streep, Angela Lansbury, Julie Andrews, Glenn Close, Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Miller, Neil Simon, Jerry Herman, Terrence McNally, Barbara Cook, John Kander & Fred Ebb, August Wilson, George C. Wolfe and Gwen Verdon.

"The event benefits New Dramatists, which was founded in 1949 by Michael O'Harra in association with Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Moss Hart, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse," according to the organization's website. "Its playwrights have won 14 Pulitzers (7 out of the last 10 prizes), 20 Tony Awards, 63 Obie Awards and 17 New York Drama Critics Circle Awards. New Dramatists is the recipient of a 2001 Tony Honor and the 2005 Ross Wetzsteon Memorial Obie Award. Joel Ruark is the Executive Director of New Dramatists and Todd London is the Artistic Director."

Tickets are $250 (a portion of which is tax-deductible). For tickets, call (212) 757-6960 x13. For more information, visit www.newdramatists.org.

Don't Miss a Broadway News Story Sign up for all the news on the Winter season, discounts & more...