
Cathy has been honored with
the National Broadway Theatre Award's 2004 Distinguished Lifetime
Service Award from The League of American Theatres and Producers,
Inc.
Cathy Rigby has achieved her
dreams and is still soaring to new heights everyday. America first
took notice of Cathy at the Olympics in 1968. Her spunkiness and drive
to succeed charmed any audience that watched her. She quickly became
known as "America’s Sweetheart of Gymnastics." Throughout
her gymnastics career, she was able to win numerous international
gymnastic medals (including eight gold medals) and she went to the
Olympics a second time in 1972. Cathy won a silver medal on the balance
beam at the 1970 World Championships, being the first American woman
to medal in World Gymnastics. She inspired many young girls and made
the sport of gymnastics popular in America. After a brilliant gymnastics
career, Cathy joined ABC as a sports commentator and for 18 years
provided expertise commentary in the sport of gymnastics.
After years of gymnastics,
Cathy sought out to conquer the world of acting. Her determination
and competitive spirit inspired her to go through years of training
to perfect herself before she went on stage. She took seven years
of voice and acting training and twelve years of ballet to prepare
for stage and TV roles. Her musical debut was Dorothy in the "Wizard
of Oz." Audiences adored her and she continued to move on to
other theatrical plays and musicals including "Annie Get Your
Gun," "Meet Me in St. Louis," "South Pacific,"
"Paint Your Wagon," "They’re Playing Our Song,"
"The Unsinkable Molly Brown," "Seussical the Musical,"
and "Peter Pan." She also performed on Broadway with "Seussical
the Musical" and "Peter Pan." Cathy obtained acting
roles in various TV movies including "The Perfect Body,"
"Hard to Read," "The Great Wallendas," and "Triathlon."
Her acting career has also
helped her to pursue another career with her husband, actor-singer-producer,
Tom McCoy. They formed their own production company called McCoy Rigby
Entertainment. Through their company, they have successfully produced
many seasons of musicals, plays, concerts, and special events at the
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in La Mirada, California.
They have also launched many national touring productions including
"Jesus Christ Superstar," and "Peter Pan."
The role that Cathy is best
known for is that of Peter in the musical, "Peter Pan."
She earned a Tony nomination for her performance of Peter Pan on Broadway
and "Peter Pan" earned more Tony nominations after the production
toured nationally. Arts and Entertainment (A&E) filmed "Peter
Pan" and it is now available on DVD along with the soundtrack
in stores nationwide.
Cathy spends her spare time
as a motivational speaker on the topics of nutrition and wellness.
She also devotes her time to her family and various charitable causes.