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Showtune Sunday: All About Rita Moreno!
Rita Moreno will be one of the recipients of the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors later this year so it seems like the perfect time to spotlight her here.
She is one of the few performers to have WON all four major annual American entertainment awards – an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony – and pointed out to me last year that she is a legitimate EGOT because none of her awards are honorary. Not even Barbra Streisand or Liza Minnelli can say that!
Of course she’s best known for West Side Story and The Ritz (on Broadway and film) but as a kid I only knew her as that lady from The Electric Company.
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Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
K. Martinez says:
Rita Moreno also had roles in two classic musical films from the 1950’s. She played Zelda Zanders in “Singin’ in the Rain” with Gene Kelly (1952)and Tuptim in “The King and I” with Yul Brynner (1956).
I also remember her on “The Electric Company”. That was a pretty cool kid’s show. She’s one awesome woman!
Gaspar Marino says:
One of the all time greats ! She deserves every honor she has received and will receive. An incomparable performer.
Scott K says:
The Ritz is a terrific film! The actors were superb! Only Barry Manilow playing the piano would complete this film. I have never been to a “bath” but after learning about BM and BM (Hmmmm)at the Continental Baths, I thought for sure this was what that experience may have been like. I got to meet Ms. Moreno at the Westshore Mall in Tampa when she introduced her fragrance. I got an autographed picture as well! I thought her part on HBO’s “OZ” was brilliant! As a child of the 60s-70s, I love “The Electric Company”! Congratulations on the Kennedy Center Honor, Rita, you have certainly earned it!!!