Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography Courtesy of Arizona Musicfest

Rita Moreno’s passion for film is palpable. For her, it is an art form capable of exhibiting a kaleidoscope of emotions, a mirror reflecting the complexities of human existence.

“For me, film is a bunch of things,” Moreno says. “It is an entertainment; it is an inspiration; it is a heartbreaker. That is why I love film. It does so many different things for people.”

From the playful whimsy of “Singin’ in the Rain” to the heart-wrenching drama of “West Side Story,” the actress has seen and experienced it all, and her insights are both profound and relatable.

On Saturday, March 16, Moreno will grace the stage at Highlands Church for an intimate event as part of Arizona Musicfest. Far from your typical Q-and-A, the evening will unfold as a vibrant tapestry woven from the entertainment icon’s 92 years of life, laughter and lessons learned under the bright lights of Hollywood and beyond.

The “conversation,” as she prefers to call it, will be guided by interlocutor Cheryl Boone Isaacs — former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who will toss out questions that spark Moreno’s remarkable wit and wisdom.

“Obviously, it has to start with some questions,” Moreno explains. “But it is essentially just a back-and-forth between myself and this person I met a half-hour ago. And the audience absolutely loves it because it leaves me free to tell any kind of stories I want to. And I am not 92 for nothing. I have a lot of stories to tell. Some of them are pretty funny. Some of them are really sad. It is a life, after all.”

Moreno especially enjoys telling stories in which she can poke fun at herself — which, she says, assures the audience that she is being honest, vulnerable and sincere. She also does not shy away from speaking her mind.

“I am a very direct and alert old broad,” she explains. “I am pretty blunt and I do not mess around.”

The event is intentionally designed to match Moreno’s personality and reflect storytelling in its purest form; raw, honest and deeply human.

It could also be called a masterclass in living life to the fullest. Appearing most recently in this past holiday season’s “Family Switch” on Netflix, Moreno still actively seeks out new roles, embraces challenges and finds humor in the absurdities of everyday life.

“I love being active,” she proclaims. “And I love acting. I am an actress after all. It is just what I do. I love to pretend that I am someone else. And that never goes away.”

Arizona Musicfest’s executive and producing director, Allan Naplan, says that, with so many accomplishments under her belt, the EGOT winner certainly does not need to continue acting at all.

“But she seems to thrive on it,” Naplan adds. “So why stop? I mean, she has already broken every barrier as a female artist, a Latin artist and beyond. And she continues to do so simply by continuing to work — which is really something to be celebrated. And that is exactly what we are going to be doing with our March 16 event.”

Record-Breaking Season
That celebration will continue through the remainder of this winter and spring as Arizona Musicfest presents a wide variety of artists as part of its 33rd season.

On Friday, Feb. 2, The Doo Wop Project will take the stage with an exciting performance that features fresh renditions of doo-wop classics as well as “doo-wopified” versions of contemporary hits.

Three days later, “Classical Mystery Tour” will recreate the Beatles’ first-ever concert in America 60 years ago. However, those hoping to “Come Together” for the performance will have to “Let It Be,” because tickets have been sold out for months.

“We have sold out more concerts this season earlier than ever before,” Naplan says. “And we have 1,600 seats in our primary venue so it certainly speaks to the attraction of the artists we are presenting. It also speaks to Arizona Musicfest’s standing in the community in that we put on good shows and audiences can trust that each one is going to be a worthy entertainment option for them.”

On Monday, Feb. 12, Broadway legend Brian Stokes Mitchell and trailblazing pianist Lara Downes will join forces for “A New World A-Comin’,” a revelatory evening of music reflecting on the transformative expansion of music from the first half of the 20th century.

Actress Kristin Chenoweth will follow the duo five days later with a show that was one of the fastest sold-out concerts in Arizona Musicfest history, second only to Johnny Mathis.

On Monday, Feb. 19, Monica Mancini — the daughter of legendary composer Henry Mancini — will present a concert endearingly titled “Moon River and Me,” a centennial celebration of the extraordinary artist who was nominated for an astounding 18 Oscars and 72 Grammys.

Blending classical music and comedy, the string quartet MozART Group will then take the stage on Tuesday, Feb. 27, ahead of Arizona Musicfest’s Festival Orchestra Week.

“Anchored by luminary opera star Renée Fleming, this is the best-selling festival orchestra week that we have ever had,” says Naplan, noting that the soprano’s Sunday, March 10, concert is among this season’s sold-out performances.

Other Festival Orchestra Week shows include a centennial celebration of “Rhapsody in Blue” on Sunday, March 3; “Superman, Schumann and Strauss” on Tuesday, March 5;” and a concert featuring music from the stage and screen on Friday, March 8.

One of last season’s breakout stars, Swedish musical sensation Gunhild Carling, will then take the stage again with a brand-new show on Tuesday, March 12.

“There is no one with more hyphens in their career than Gunhild Carling with the 11 or so instruments that she plays,” Naplan says. “And she plays them exceedingly well. She is a throwback vaudevillian artist who can do it all. Her show was a huge hit last year, so I immediately knew that we needed to bring her back this year.”

Also coming back this season is legendary singer-songwriter Judy Collins, who previously appeared as part of Arizona Musicfest 10 years ago. Her Friday, March 22 show will be followed by Ladysmith Black Mambazo on Monday, March 25. The late former South African President Nelson Mandela designated the group “South Africa’s cultural ambassadors to the world.”

CMT’s 2022 “Next Woman of Country” Miko Marks, Nashville singer Kristina Train and a five-member all-female band will then take the stage on Monday, April 1, for “Trailblazing Women of Country” — a show that features the music of Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton.

“On Friday, April 5, we will welcome the World Doctors Orchestra — featuring 85 physician musicians from around the world,” Naplan says. “Each year, they choose just four locations to assemble. Not only do they perform at a very high level, but they also do a lot of good in the community by giving all proceeds from the concert to a worthy charity. This particular performance will benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Virginia G. Piper Medical Clinic.”

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain will then take the stage on Monday, April 15, before “Hotel California: A Salute to the Eagles” closes Arizona Musicfest’s season on Friday, April 26.

Groundbreaking Career
Among Moreno’s favorite roles that she has played on stage and screen over the past nine decades are antagonist Norma Desmond in “Sunset Boulevard” and Amanda Wingfield in “The Glass Menagerie” — a character she calls a “fatiguely difficult woman.”

“I love playing women who are very involved with themselves because they usually have no sense of humor,” Moreno explains. “I think that there is nothing funnier to play as an actor than a person with no sense of humor.”

However, she says that one of her most rewarding roles was as Valentina in 2021’s “West Side Story.” Having portrayed Anita in the first cinematic adaptation of the Broadway musical 60 years prior, the opportunity essentially brought Moreno’s life full circle.

“It was such a lovely part,” the actress says. “And I was so touched when I found out that they were going to let me sing ‘Somewhere,’ a song that I have always revered; not just loved but truly revered.

“I was in tears because there are so many amazing things about the state of people’s hearts and lives in that movie. I was beyond thrilled, and I will never be able to thank Steven [Spielberg] and Tony [Kushner] enough for offering me that role. Steven told me that he believed it was the best acting that I have ever done. And I agree with him. I really enjoy watching myself in that film.”

She also enjoys seeing other actors practice their craft, having recently rewatched Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts jab verbal knives into each other in 2013’s tragicomedy “August: Osage County.”

“My God, those women were just sensational in that movie,” Moreno says.

The actress adds that, over the course of her storied career, one lesson has made its way to the forefront: Never give up — advice that is especially true in the entertainment industry but could very well also be applied to life in general.

“I say that as a person who is from another country, who has had to deal with the whole Puerto Rican business,” she notes. “You must never, ever give up. That takes a certain strength of character. If you think you cannot take it, then quit and do something else. Because you really do have to be strong in this business. And it is a business. It is an art, but more often than not, it is a business.”

Forged in the fires of a career that has defied stereotypes and shattered barriers, Moreno is a pioneer for Latina representation in Hollywood. An icon and an inspiration, her March 16 event as part of Arizona Musicfest is certain to be filled with laughter, tears and everything in between.

Arizona Musicfest Presents Rita Moreno: In Conversation
Saturday, March 16 // 7:30 p.m. // Highlands Church // 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Suite 100, Scottsdale // $53+ // azmusicfest.org