Chita Rivera died Tuesday at age 91. A brilliant dancer who originated roles in « West Side Story, » « Chicago » and « Kiss of The Spider Woman, » she really was all that jazz.
When the news broke Tuesday of Broadway legend Chita Rivera’s death at 91, the song “Somewhere” started playing in my head.
The beautiful tearjerker from “West Side Story,” often used during “In Memoriam” segments, is about the young Sharks and Jets eventually finding peace. “There’s a place for us,” it goes.
But then it hit me like a Jet during the rumble: “Somewhere” is the wrong number to encapsulate the dynamo of life, dance, voice, looks and sheer force of personality that was the indomitable Rivera.
Far better suited is her proud lyric as Anita, the role she originated in “West Side” that made her a superstar in 1957, during the vivacious “America”: “I like the island Manhattan! Smoke on your pipe and put that in!”
We liked her, too.
