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Home , Bob Avian, Chita Rivera

2200 Liberty Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: (305) 929-7000 miamicityballet.org

CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jeff Parks September 19, 2013 Director of Marketing and Communications (305) 929-7000, ext. 1600 For more information, visit [email protected] miamicityballet.org

MIAMI CITY BALLET PRESENTS THE LEGENDARY TONY-AWARD WINNING STAR CHITA RIVERA IN A CONVERSATION ABOUT ALONG WITH MCB’S PRESENTATION OF EXCERPTS FROM

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1 at 7 pm and SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2 at 2:30 pm and 7 pm

Miami Beach, FL — Miami City Ballet proudly presents Tony Award-winning Broadway star Chita Rivera in an exclusive discussion about West Side Story Suite, along with live performance excerpts from Miami City Ballet’s upcoming Triple Threat progam. Ms. Rivera will also discuss working with some of the greatest artists in the history of musical theatre and film, including , and .

This exclusive presentation is part of Miami City Ballet’s Open Barre series, and will take place three times only: Friday, November 1 at 7 pm and Saturday, November 2 at 2:30 pm and 7 pm at the Miami City Ballet Studios located at 2200 Liberty Avenue, Miami Beach.

Tickets are on sale now to MCB Subscribers, and go on sale to the general public on Monday, October 7, 2013. Tickets may be purchased online at miamicityballet.org, by calling the Miami City Ballet box office at (305) 929-7010, or toll-free at (877) 929-7010. Tickets are just $35 and include an “Open Bar” of complimentary wine and soft drinks in the lobby beginning thirty minutes prior to curtain time. Miami Beach InCard members save $10 when they purchase their tickets in person only at Miami City Ballet, Monday-Friday 10am-5pm or on the day of performance until curtain time.

The presentation will be hosted and moderated by Tony-Award winning choreographer/director/producer and Miami City Ballet Board member Bob Avian, best known for , , and Sunset Boulevard.

- more - Open Barre is a special dance series that takes place twice a year at Miami City Ballet’s 200-seat Lynn and Louis Wolfson, II Theatre, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the world of dance and the artists that create it. Open Barre is made possible through the generous support of the Wolfson Family and City of Miami Beach Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council.

“The evening will focus on Chita Rivera’s role as Anita in the original Broadway production of West Side Story and how she worked closely with Robbins, Bernstein, Sondheim – at the time, all unknown names on Broadway -- collaborating for the first time on a project that many felt was impossible,” said Miami City Ballet’s Artistic Director, Lourdes Lopez. “ Inspired by Romeo and Juliet and the gang warfare that was prevalent in the ’50-‘s in , West Side Story marked a turning point in American musical theater — actors were made to act, sing and dance — in other words, a Triple Threat.”

An accomplished and versatile actress/singer/dancer, Chita Rivera has won two as Best Leading Actress in a Musical and received seven additional Tony nominations. She recently concluded a successful run starring in the new Roundabout Theatre ’s production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood on Broadway. She starred in the Broadway and touring productions of The Dancer’s Life, a dazzling new musical celebrating her spectacular career, written by Terence McNally and directed by . She recreated her starring role in , the new Kander/Ebb/McNally musical at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA (originally done at the , in 2001). She also starred in the revival of the Broadway musical with .

Ms. Rivera trained as a ballerina (from age 11) before receiving a scholarship to the School of American Ballet from legendary . Her first appearance (age 17) was as a principal dancer in , and her electric performance as Anita in the Broadway premiere of West Side Story (1957) brought her stardom, which she repeated in London. Her career highlights include starring roles in , (Tony Award), Chicago, Jerry’s Girls, Kiss of the Spider Woman (Tony Award), and the original Broadway casts of , Can-Can, Seventh Heaven and Mr. Wonderful. And on tour she has appeared in , The Rose Tattoo, Call Me Madam, Threepenny Opera, , Kiss Me Kate, , and Can-Can with The Rockettes.

Ms. Rivera was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom by President on August 12, 2009. She received the coveted Kennedy Center Honor in Washington, DC in December, 2002 and is the first Hispanic woman ever chosen to receive this award. In May 2013, she was also appointed to a special Advisory Committee. Her current solo CD is entitled And Now I Swing. On October 7, 2013 she will be honored with a star-studded concert on Broadway “Chita: A Legendary Celebration” to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS at The .

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The March 7 and 8 Open Barre performances will feature choreographer and New York City Ballet dancer , whose Miami City Ballet commissioned work, Chutes and Ladders, is featured in Miami City Ballet’s 2013-2014 season as part of Program II: See the Music.

About Miami City Ballet

Hailed by The New York Times as “one of America’s most beloved dance companies,” Miami City Ballet is led by Artistic Director Lourdes Lopez. The Company has more than 40 dancers and a repertoire of over 90 ballets. Among the Company’s notable achievements have been critically-acclaimed performances in Paris and New York City and the nationally televised PBS THIRTEEN special: Great Performances - Dance In America: Miami City Ballet Dances Balanchine and Tharp.

During its October to April season Miami City Ballet performs in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Naples. Miami City Ballet maintains its headquarters in Miami Beach in a facility designed by renowned architectural firm Arquitectonica. The facility houses rehearsal studios and administrative offices as well as the Miami City Ballet School.

For more information on Miami City Ballet or to purchase tickets, call 305.929.7010, toll-free 877-929-7010 or visit www.miamicityballet.org. You can also join us on Facebook, follow the Company on Twitter and subscribe to the MCB Blog.

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SPONSORED IN PART BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, DIVISION OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, AND THE FLORIDA COUNCIL ON ARTS AND CULTURE. MCB PROGRAMMING IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND THE CULTURAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL, THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY MAYOR AND BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, CULTURAL AFFAIRS PROGRAM, CULTURAL ARTS COUNCIL. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800) 435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. MCB REGISTRATION NUMBER: CH1034. ADA ACCESSIBLE.