In 1984, Rivera starred in the Kander and Ebb musical "The Rink" with Liza Minnelli and won her first Tony and Drama Desk Awards for her role as Anna. In 1986, while earning a Tony Award nomination for her performance in the Jerry Herman musical, "Jerry's Girls", Rivera was in a severe accident when her car collided with a taxi on West 86th Street in Manhattan. Injuries sustained included the breaking of her left leg in twelve places, requiring eighteen screws and two braces to mend. After rehabilitation, Rivera continued to perform on stage. Miraculously revitalized, in 1988, she toured the country in "Can-Can" and got involved in a restaurant venture in partnership with the novelist Daniel Simone. The eatery, located on 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenue, was named "Chita's" after her. It soon became a significant attraction for the after-theater crowds and operated until 1994.