The show did go on, but came very close to not going on at all.

Later when Chita Rivera was 15 a teacher from George Balanchine's School of American Ballet visited their studio and Rivera was one of two students picked to audition in New York City; Chita Rivera was accompanied to the audition by Doris Jones one of the people who ran the Jones-Haywood School. In 2012 Rivera will play "Princess Puffer" in the Broadway musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood starting November 13th. the daughter of Katherine a government clerk and Pedro Julio Figueroa del Rivero a clarinetist and saxophonist for the United States Navy Band.

Chita Rivera (born January 23 1933) is an American actress dancer and singer best known for her roles in musical theater. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.