Rita Moreno, legend of stage and screen, to discuss her career and issues facing Latinos in entertainment | News | Notre Dame News | University of Notre Dame Skip To Content Skip To Navigation Skip To Search University of Notre Dame Notre Dame News Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Home Contact Search Menu Home › News › Rita Moreno, legend of stage and screen, to discuss her career and issues facing Latinos in entertainment Rita Moreno, legend of stage and screen, to discuss her career and issues facing Latinos in entertainment Published: February 04, 2019 Author: Institute for Latino Studies Rita Moreno Rita Moreno — American actress, dancer and singer of Puerto Rican descent — will speak at 5 p.m. Feb. 21 (Thursday) in the Leighton Concert Hall at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. Moreno is the first and only Latina to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony (EGOT), and she will be the guest of Notre Dame’s Institute for Latino Studies (ILS) as part of its Transformative Latino Leadership Lecture Series. This is a free, but ticketed, event and is open to the public.   Her career has spanned more than 70 years in Broadway shows, studio films and multiple TV series. Moreno's best-known role is Anita in “West Side Story” — a performance that earned her an Academy Award for best supporting actress. Moreno also starred in “The King and I,” as well as “The Electric Company” and “Oz.” Moreno currently stars in the Netflix series “One Day at a Time.” In this critically acclaimed re-imagination of the classic CBS sitcom, Moreno plays the matriarch of a Cuban-American family, and its episodes tackle issues such as mental illness, immigration, sexism, homophobia and racism.     “Rita Moreno is among the best examples of the rich cultural contributions made by Latinas to many aspects of the arts and entertainment industries,” said ILS Director Luis R. Fraga, the Rev. Donald P. McNeill, C.S.C., Professor of Transformative Latino Leadership and Joseph and Elizabeth Robbie Professor of Political Science. “We will all learn from her commitment, professionalism and unquestioned success.”   The Transformative Latino Leadership Lecture Series brings prominent figures in law, entertainment, business, the Catholic Church and other fields to campus in order to impart their personal experiences and a vision of effective leadership. Past guests include Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor; former San Antonio mayor and U.S. secretary of health and human services Julián Castro; the Most Rev. Jose H. Gómez, archbishop of Los Angeles; and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta.     Jason Ruiz — associate professor of American Studies, interim department chair and ILS faculty fellow — spearheaded the effort to bring Moreno to Notre Dame as part of his research and teaching on Latinx popular culture. He will moderate a conversation with Moreno on her life and career, with a focus on the cultural politics of representing Latinos.    “Our conversation will show that Moreno is not just a practitioner of the arts but also a leading thinker on Latino and Latina media, demonstrated by her propensity for speaking out against stereotyping, ‘brownface’ and other problems associated with Hollywood’s representations of Latinos,” Ruiz said. “This event is the result of my interest in Moreno’s career that started when I first saw 'West Side Story' at age 10.”   Moreno's career began at age 11 dubbing Spanish language versions of American films. After her Broadway debut at age 14, Moreno struggled with typecasting — being offered only “exotic” roles or those portraying a sexualized woman. Over the next several decades, Moreno grew to know and respect herself as an artist and become the role model she did not have growing up in the entertainment industry.     A 2004 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor bestowed upon an American civilian, and a 2010 recipient of the National Medal of Arts, Moreno has also received the Here I Stand Award for activism in the arts.   In anticipation of Moreno's visit, ILS will co-sponsor a screening of “West Side Story” at 3 p.m. Feb. 17 (Sunday) in the Browning Cinema at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. This event is also free, but ticketed, and open to the public.   Tickets for both events can be reserved through the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.    Originally published by Institute for Latino Studies at latinostudies.nd.edu on Jan. 29. Posted In: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion University News Home Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Related September 15, 2022 Lilly Endowment Inc. grant helps to expand Notre Dame pre-college programs for Hoosier high school students September 13, 2022 Notre Dame observes Hispanic Heritage Month with events around campus July 22, 2022 Roxanne Gregg named executive director of Notre Dame TRIO programs July 08, 2022 University of Notre Dame hosts 2022 Latina/o Studies Association Conference June 23, 2022 Notre Dame to honor pioneers of Irish women’s athletics For the Media Contact Office of Public Affairs and Communications Notre Dame News 500 Grace Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Pinterest © 2022 University of Notre Dame Search Mobile App News Events Visit Accessibility Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn