Rita Moreno Not only is she an EGOT winner, but now the Hollywood legend has a building bearing her name on it in Hollywood.
The “West Side Story” star was in attendance on June 23 at the Hollywood Arts’ Rita Moreno Arts building naming ceremony in Los Angeles.
Scheduled to open in summer 2023 at 1630 Schrader Blvd. The Hollywood Arts Collective will also house the Cicely Tyson apartment building for low-income residents.
“It was really a surprise to me,” Moreno said, “I was asked if I’d let them put my name on it and I did two things: I almost peed, and I almost fell on the floor.” diverse. ‘I said, ‘Really?’ Then I wanted to say ‘Why?’ But I thought it would be kind of rude. If they chose me, there was something wonderful about me that I needed to be reminded of. That’s how it happened. And I’m really, really happy. I can’t believe it.”
Moreno also remembered the last time she saw Tyson, who died last year at the age of 96, when the two visited the White House during the holidays.
“We take pictures in front of the tree, and I will never forget this—this is Cecily Tyson—a little girl was gathering us and she said, ‘Okay, guys,’” and Cecily took it. She said, “Excuse me. We’re not guys,” Moreno said. “I let her get it. This poor creature who didn’t know any better was clearly very embarrassed. It turned bright scarlet. She said, “Don’t name women again, guys.” And I just said, Cecily, I love you. She said, “Rita, I love you.” She was so wonderful, what a beautiful woman.”
The naming ceremony, which took place in the elegant Lee’s Bar at the Thompson Hollywood Hotel, also included an appearance by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Entertainment Community Fund. Annette BeningFund President and CEO Joseph b. Benincasa Executive Director of the Western Region Keith McNut. Other guests included the creator of “Moesha” and “Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” Ralph Farquhar.
“I met a woman who worked in the city when they started this project 13 years ago. It took a long time, a lot of people. And I just loved it, because I live here in Los Angeles. And I just wanted to do everything I could to try and help,” Benning said. diverse. “It’s 151 affordable housing units. For anyone who lives in Los Angeles, and anyone who has a hard time living in Los Angeles, you know what it means to have affordable housing. Housing is everywhere, it’s really expensive, but here, we really need it. We really need to provide that kind of help.”
Moreno spoke passionately about her childhood growing up in New York City, in a speech later in the evening after showing her an artist’s sketch of the future of the Rita Moreno Art Building. Escape from her family’s apartment. She surprised the audience with her favorite song from her childhood, “The Dream” by Pied Pipers.
Then Moreno imagined what her late mother would say about seeing a building named after her daughter.
“She might have been saying ‘Oh, that’s cute. Moreno said. “So I would say this to her – I would say Hollywood Arts Group … is very important to low-income arts and entertainment workers who are being priced out of Hollywood. It’s incredible. This will allow them to continue to live and work and will allow them to dream. You know. You can’t take away our dreams.”
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