Rivera Receives New Dramatists Achievement Award, 5/18

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.

Ben Vereen and Rosie O'Donnell will pay tribute to Rivera at the gala event. ynn Ahrens, David Auburn, Alec Baldwin, Walter Bobbie, Marge Champion, Jill Clayburgh, Robert Cuccioli, Jim Dale, Stephen Flaherty, David Garrison, Ana Gasteyer, Ben Gazzara, Sheldon Harnick, Kitty Carlisle Hart, Maurice Hines, Judith Ivey, Sarah Jones, John Kander, Lisa Kron, LaChanze, Angela Lansbury, David Lindsay-Abaire, Donald Margulies, James McDaniel, Audra McDonald, John McMartin, Patricia Morrison, Donna Murphy, Marsha Norman, Estelle Parsons, Joyce Randolph, Lee Roy Reams, Tony Roberts, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Marian Seldes, Amy Spanger, Tony Stevens, Charles Strouse, Joyce Van Patten, John Weidman, Doug Wright and John Lloyd Young are also expected to turn out.

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.

"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.