The space opened in 1938 as the Diamond Horseshoe and quickly became one of the most iconic venues of the vaudeville era, eventually becoming the home for the Avant garde off-broadway hit Queen of the Night. In March 2018, Sony Hall officially opened its doors with much of its original history and dynamic design and décor elements still kept in-tact. The decision to leave the venue as is was one which Sony Group Corporation made without hesitation after first stepping into the space. From the moment you enter, the room’s rich heritage can be felt throughout every corner. By retaining its original design and incorporating the latest Sony technology, Sony Hall respects the venue’s history and legacy while making it a truly special place where both creativity and technology seamlessly come to life.

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CHITA RIVERA (Host) | A theatrical icon and one of Broadway’s greatest triple-threat talents, Chita Rivera is one of the most nominated performers in Tony Award history having earned 10 nominations, won twice and received the 2018 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. A versatile actress/singer/dancer, her most recent starring roles include The Visit, the final John Kander/Fred Ebb/Terrence McNally musical directed by John Doyle and choreographed by Graciela Daniele on Broadway; the Broadway revival of The Mystery of Edwin Drood; the Broadway and touring productions of The Dancer’s Life, a dazzling musical celebrating her spectacular career, written by Terrence McNally and directed by Graciela Daniele and the revival of the Broadway musical Nine with Antonio Banderas. She trained as a ballerina (from age nine) before receiving a scholarship to the School of American Ballet from the legendary choreographer George Balanchine.

Chita’s first appearance (age 17) was as a principal dancer in Call Me Madam. Her electric performance as Anita in the original Broadway premiere of West Side Story brought her stardom, which she repeated in London. Her career is highlighted by starring roles in Bye Bye Birdie, The Rink (Tony Award), Chicago, Jerry’s Girls, Kiss of the Spider Woman (Tony Award), and the original Broadway casts of Guys and Dolls, Can-Can, Seventh Heaven and Mr. Wonderful. On tour: Born Yesterday, The Rose Tattoo, Call Me Madam, Threepenny Opera, Sweet Charity, Kiss Me Kate, Zorba, Can-Can with The Rockettes. Chita was awarded The Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2009 and received the coveted Kennedy Center Honor in 2002.

In 2019, Chita performed her solo concert at London’s Cadogan Hall; in 2018 she was honored as a Living Landmark by the New York Landmarks Conservancy; in 2016 she headlined at Carnegie Hall and in 2015, Great Performances aired their special Chita Rivera: A Lot of Livin’ To Do, a retrospective of her extraordinary life and career nationally on PBS. Her current solo CD is entitled And Now I Swing. Her most treasured production is her daughter, singer/dancer/choreographer Lisa Mordente.

BAAYORK LEE (Choreographer) | has performed in a dozen Broadway shows and created the role of Connie in A Chorus Line. As Michael Bennett’s assistant choreographer on A Chorus Line, she has directed and choreographed many national and international companies in Klagenfurt, Spain, Austria, Santiago, Chile, Hollywood Bowl and Pace University.

Her directing and choreography credits also include; The King and I and Bombay Dreams (National tours), R&H’s Cinderella (NYC Opera), Barnum (Australia), Carmen Jones (Kennedy Center), Porgy and Bess and Jesus Christ Superstar (European tours), Gypsy and A New Brain. She has also choreographed shows including; Miss Saigon (KC Starlight), Mack and Mabel (Shaw Festival), Animal Crackers, South Pacific (Helen Hayes nominations,) Coconuts, Camelot, and Damn Yankees all at Arena Stage in Washington, DC.

Most recently, Baayork Lee was the recipient of the 2017 Isabelle Stevenson TONY Award. Ms. Lee was honored for her commitment to future generations of artists through her work with National Asian Artists Project and theatre education programs around the world.

KYLE GARVIN (Choreographer) | Originating from Bridgeport, CT, Kyle earned a BFA degree in Musical Theater from the University of the Arts. Kyle has toured both nationally and internationally in How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Madison Square Garden), Go Diego Go Live! ( Radio City Music Hall), favorite credits include Twist: An American Musical, under the direction of Debbie Allen (Alliance Theater, Pasadena Playhouse), Hairspray (Courthouse Repertory Theater), Matilda (Virginia Stage Company), The Wild Party (Barrow Group Theater), and Oliver (Paper Mill Playhouse), Parable of the Sower Opera (Touring), Jersey Boys (Capital Repertory Theater), The Wizard of Oz as Lion/Zeke (Capital Repertory Theater). As a Choreographer Kyle was previously creatively involved in Baayork Lee’s National Asian Artist Project’s (NAAP) productions of Carousel, Hello Dolly!, and Oliver! He is the director/choreographer for NAAP’s multi-award-winning PS 124 theater club, and on the choreography team at Kristin Chenoweth’s Broadway BootCamp. Most recently the choreographer of NAAP’s comeback production Pajama Game.

KEVIN STITES (Musical Director) | Broadway: South Pacific (LCT), Tale Of Two Cities, The Color Purple (Music Supervision / Incidental Music), Titanic (Original Musical Supervisor/Music Director), Sunset Boulevard, Pamela’s First Musical, Children and Art, Les Miserables (2006 revival), The Threepenny Opera (Roundabout Revival), Fiddler on the Roof (Alfred Molina), Nine (Antonio Banderas), OKLAHOMA! (Nunn/Stroman), On The Town, Nine to Five (Additional Musical Arrangements). National Tours: Little House On The Prairie, The Color Purple, Martin Guerre, Miss Saigon, The Phantom Of The Opera, Les Miserables, Titanic. Regional: The Master Butchers Singing Club (world premiere) by Marsha Norman (Composer/Music Arranger) at The Guthrie, Titanic at the St. Louis Muny, and Take Flight at The McCarter Theatre. Film/Television: Rosie Live!, Reefer Madness, Letterman, Rosie, several Tony Awards Telecasts, Macy’s Fourth of July Spectacular, NBC’S Christmas At Rockefeller Center, and others. Guest Conductor: Grant Park Symphony (Sondheim, Bernstein, and Gershwin tributes), Hollywood Bowl’s Guys And Dolls and Les Miserables.

NELLIE BEAVERS (Assistant Director) | is an entertainment jackknife and digital unicorn. She met Richard Jay-Alexander in 2007 and has worked with him on various projects with Barbra Streisand, Kristin Chenoweth, Hugh Panaro, Deborah Cox, Lisa Howard, and Norm Lewis (among others) in various capacities from art direction and concert production, to social media, photography, and video editing. She can also be found twirling tassels as burlesque performer Honey Beavers in New York City.