JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Entertainer extraordinaire Rita Moreno, one of only a few artists to win all four of America’s major entertainment awards, will speak at Hudson County Community College as part of the College’s 2009-2010 Community Lecture Series. Ms. Moreno will appear on Wednesday, March 17 at 6:00 p.m. in the Scott Ring Room of the College’s Culinary Arts Institute/Conference Center, 161 Newkirk Street in Jersey City — just two blocks from the Grove Street PATH station. The theme for this season’s lectures is “Reaching New Heights.”
A skillful actress, Ms. Moreno’s talents as a singer and dancer have made her one of the country’s most beloved and acclaimed entertainers, and she has enjoyed success on stage, screen and television. As one of a select number to have won the Oscar, the Tony, the Emmy, and the Grammy, she earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records. Ms. Moreno is also the recipient of dozens of other awards, including the prestigious Golden Globe, Golden Apple, Joseph Jefferson and Sarah Siddons awards.
Born in Puerto Rico to a family of small, independent farmers, Ms. Moreno moved to New York at the age of five to live with her mother, who had migrated to build a better life and who worked in the garment industry. In making the move, Moreno left behind her father and brother, whom she would never see again.
Ms. Moreno began pursuing her performing career as a seven-year-old child. By the age of 11, she was lending her voice to Spanish-language films, and by 13 she had landed her first role on Broadway and captured the attention of Hollywood talent scouts. At the age of 17, Ms. Moreno appeared in the film, So Young, So Bad. For the next decade, she was relegated to degrading roles in a succession of low-quality films.
All of that changed, however, when she was cast as Anita in the film version of the Broadway hit musical, West Side Story. The movie was released in 1961 to critical acclaim, and in 1962, Ms. Moreno was awarded the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance.
Ms. Moreno’s Broadway credits include “The Last of the Red Hot Lovers,” “Gantry,” the female version of “The Odd Couple,” and “The Ritz,” for which she won the 1975 Tony for Best Featured Actress.
She was awarded the Grammy for her contribution to the soundtrack, “The Electric Company Album,” and she received Emmy awards for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (“Sesame Street”) and Outstanding Guest Actress - Drama Series (“The Rockford Files”).
“It’s a great honor to welcome Ms. Moreno to Hudson County Community College,” said HCCC President Dr. Glen Gabert. “I am sure that we will all thoroughly enjoy hearing about her life, her trials and her triumphs, and that we will all learn a great deal from her,” Dr. Gabert stated.
There are a limited number of free tickets available through the College’s Office of Student Activities for Rita Moreno’s appearance. More information and tickets are available by phoning (201) 360-4199.
# # #