Threepenny Opera

In between Bajour (1964) and Chicago (1975) Chita took on a variety of stage projects around the country. Among the most memorable was her 1966 turn as Jenny in Threepenny Opera.

The Mineola, New York production was directed by Christopher Hewett, who had also directed Shoestring Revue.

CAST

Jenny: Chita Rivera
Mr. J.J. Peachum: Edwin Steffe
Filch: Rudy Tronto
Mrs. Peachum: Maggie Task
MacHeath (Mack the Knife): James Mitchell
Polly Peachum: Gail Johnston
Mack's Gang:
Readymoney Matt: William J. Coppola
Crookfinger Jake: Louis Guss
Bob The Saw: Rod Browning
Walt Dreary: Dominic Chianese
Reverend Kimball: Charles Goff
Tiger Brown: Edward Grover
The Girls:
Betty: Sandy Ellen
Dolly: Suzan Cogan
Molly: Mary Ann Niles
Coaxer: Susan Stockwell
Smith: Rod Browning
Constable: Fritz Holt
Lucy Brown: Barbara Cason
Victoria's Messenger: Rudy Tronto

Chita Rivera played Jenny, the Lotte Lenya role in a touring production of the Kurt Weill-Bertolt Brecht musical Threepenny Opera.