, who introduced the special segment by saying,"In January, we lost one of the theater’s brightest lights: the irreplaceable Chita Rivera.", who offered stirring tributes to Rivera’s past roles, while dancers showcased memorable snippets of choreography. This culminated in the return of DeBose, who emerged in the classic purple Anita dress worn by Rivera in"I literally would not be here without Chita blazing the trail for all who follow," DeBose said.
McDonald added, “Chita had one of Broadway's quintessential voices. It sent chills from the top of your head all the way down to the bottom of your toes. It contained multitudes.” Rivera, who died at age 91 on Jan. 30, was one of the most-nominated stars in Tony Awards history, with 10 nods and two wins to her name. She was also honored with the special Lifetime Achievement Tony in 2018. Among her many credits was Rivera’s history-making role as Anita in would later win Oscars for Best Supporting Actress for portraying the same character in the 2021 and 1961 movie adaptations of the musical.
“The first time I hosted the Tonys, we had the privilege of presenting Best Musical together that year. She welcomed me to the sisterhood," the 33-year-old toldof Rivera. “She was a force of nature, and she showed so many of us what was possible, especially for dancers. She broke barriers. Because she was, I am. We all miss her a great deal, but we work very hard to keep her legacy alive and do it very well.
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