Remembering The Late, Legendary Broadway Triple Threat Chita Rivera
Chita Rivera, the dynamic dancer, singer and actress who garnered 10 Tony nominations, winning twice, in a long Broadway career that forged a path for Latina artists and shrugged off a near-fatal car accident, died Tuesday. She was 91. Rivera's death was announced by her daughter, Lisa Mordente, who said she died in New York after a brief illness. Rivera first gained wide notice in 1957 as Anita in the original production of "West Side Story" and was still dancing on Broadway with her trademark energy a half-century later in 2015’s “The Visit.” Rivera rose from chorus girl to star, collaborating along the way with many of Broadway’s greatest talents, including Jerome Robbins, Leonard Bernstein, Bob Fosse, Gower Champion, Michael Kidd, Harold Prince, Jack Cole, Peter Gennaro and John Kander and Fred Ebb. She rebounded from a car accident in 1988 that crushed her right leg and became an indefatigable star on the road. She was on Broadway in a raucous production of “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” in 2012 and the chilly “The Visit” in 2014, earning another best actress Tony nomination. She won Tonys for “The Rink” in 1984 and “Kiss of the Spider Woman” in 1993. She was nominated for the award seven other times, for “Bye Bye Birdie,” which opened in 1960; “Chicago,” 1975; "Bring Back Birdie,” 1981; “Merlin,” 1983; “Jerry’s Girls,” 1985; “Nine,” 2003; and “Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life,” 2005.
Today on AirTalk, we’ll re-air Larry's December 2022 interview with Chita -- they spoke ahead of her show later that month at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, titled “Chita: The Rhythm of My Life” in which she performed some of her most famous numbers from throughout her career alongside fellow Broadway star George Dvorsky and her daughter, Lisa Mordente.
With files from the Associated Press
California Universities Are Required To Offer Students Abortion Pills. A Lot Just Don't Mention It
An LAist investigation has found that one year after California became the first state to require its public universities to provide the abortion pill to students, basic information on where or how students can obtain the medication is lacking and, often, nonexistent. LAist found that nearly half of CSU campus clinics do not have any information about medication abortion on their clinic websites, nor do they list it as a service offered. Of University of California’s 10 campuses, eight mention abortion on their clinic websites. Joining to discuss is Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, LAist higher education correspondent, and Jackie Fortiér, LAist senior health reporter.
Understanding Proposition 1: A Two-Part Measure To Amend Mental Health Services Act
This year's only proposition on the California ballot would authorize more than $6 billion dollars for mental health facilities and folks dealing with substance abuse problems, while also broadening the scope of services to include housing. Those against proposition 1 are mostly small mental health providers who argue that if the bill is passed, they will lose the critical resources they need. Those in favor of the proposition, which includes Governor Newsom, say this bill will help fix our mental health system by providing more housing options and taxing high earners. Joining us today on AirTalk is Brooke Armour, executive vice president of the California Business Roundtable, Susan Talamantes Eggman, state senator who helped author the original bill in the state legislature, Susan Shelley, vice president of communications at Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and Paul Simmons, former executive director of the Depression and Bipolar Alliance of California.
How Airbnb Restrictions Are Impacting Palm Springs Real Estate
Palm Springs' 2022 ordinance limiting the number of rental certificates in the community has come with some consequences for the region's real estate market. According to the Los Angeles Times, the market sales have slowed and people who've invested in properties are facing major losses. Palm Springs is far from the only city to crack down on Airbnb because of housing affordability concerns, plus neighbors complain about tourists and loud parties. Today on AirTalk, we discuss the latest trends from Palm Springs and what we can learn from them. Joining is Chris Thornberg, economist and founding partner at Beacon Economics. If you live in Palm Springs or have thoughts/questions to share, call 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
LA County District Attorney Race: Incumbent George Gascón
Incumbent Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón is up against 11 other candidates hoping to take his seat. Gascón was elected for his progressive approach to reforming L.A.’s criminal justice system, but that’s also what’s gotten him in hot water. AirTalk is talking with the candidates running for DA. Today, Gascón joins Larry to talk about his reelection campaign. If you have questions, please call 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
What Status Symbol Did You Absolutely Have To Have?
The latest must-have status symbol is a…water bottle? Stanley cups (no relation to the hockey trophy) have taken the country by storm. A hundred year-old company, Stanley’s revenue is through the roof since young women have discovered their product, fueled by Target collaborations and TikTok influencers. The craze got the AirTalk team thinking: when you were growing up, what was the status symbol you absolutely had to have? That thing that all the cool kids owned? The one that you begged your parents for? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com. Joining us to kick off the conversation is Amanda Mull, staff writer for the Atlantic who writes about consumerism in her column, Material World.
