The Visit (2015 Broadway)

THE VISIT

Absolutely stunning night at the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway with THE VISIT — love past, present and forever which opened April 23, 2015. In my opinion this is John Kander & Fred Ebb’s finest score, and Chita Rivera’s greatest triumph. Terrence McNally’s witty book is the best interpretation of this famous story I have seen.

Riverting, gut-wrenching and enthralling show, with an amazing cast that put the Director John Doyle’s brilliant stylization forefront. The set, lighting, sound and choreography all blend perfectly moving the story forward.

Buy an airplane ticket, run, don’t walk to catch this fabulous boutique musical brought to you by the next visionary super producer, Tom Kirdahy with an army of producers behind him including Edgar Bronfman, Jr., Tom Smedes, Hugh Hayes, Peter Stern, Judith Ann Abrams, Rich Affannato, Hunter Arnold, Carl Daikeler, Ken Davenport, Bharat Mitra & Bhavani Lev, Peter May, Ted Snowdon, Bruno Wang Productions, Taylor Cleghorn, Sandi Moran, Mark Lee & Ed Filipowski, Blodgett Calvin Family, Gabrielle Palitz / Weatherby & Fishman LLC, Marguerite Hoffman / Jeremy Youett, Carlos Arana, Veenerick & Katherine Vos Van Liempt, 42nd Club / Silva Theatrical, Kate Cannova / Terry Loftis and The Shubert Organization (Philip J. Smith: Chairman; Robert E. Wankel: President); Produced in association with The Williamstown Theatre Festival (Stephen M. Kaus, Producer; Jenny Gersten, Artistic Director Emeritus); Associate Producers: Marco Nieto and Invisible Wall PDS.

This is what great theatre,
and Broadway, is all about —
a truly sensational experience —
and a perfect gift to the world.

Book by Terrence McNally; Music by John Kander; Lyrics by Fred Ebb; Based on the play by Friedrich Duerrenmatt; Adapted by Maurice Valency; Music Direction, Vocal and Dance Arrangements: David Loud; Music orchestrated by Larry Hochman

Directed by John Doyle; Choreographed by Graciela Daniele; Set design by Scott Pask; Costume design by Ann Hould-Ward; Lighting design by Japhy Weideman; Sound design by Dan Moses Schreier; Hair & wig design by Paul Huntley; Makeup design by J. Jared Janas; Production Stage Manager, Lori M. Doyle; Stage Manager: Thomas J. Gates and Assistant Stage Manager: Libby Unsworth

STARRING Chita Rivera (Claire Zachanassian); Roger Rees (Anton Schell); Jason Danieley (Frederich Kuhn); David Garrison (Peter Dummermut); George Abud (Karl Schell); Matthew Deming (Louis Perch); Diana Dimarzio (Annie Dummermut); Mary Beth Peil (Matilde Schell); Rick Holmes (Father Josef); Tom Nelis (Rudi & later in run Anton Schell); Chris Newcomer (Jacob Chicken); Aaron Ramey (Otto Hahnke); Timothy Shew (Hans Nusselin); John Riddle (Young Anton); Elena Shaddow (Ottilie Schell) and Michelle Veintimilla (Young Claire)

Standby: Donna McKechnie (Claire Zachannassian)

Dance Captain: Michelle Veintimilla

Musical Coordinator: John Monaco; Associate Conductor/Piano/Celeste: Jesse Kissel; Violin: Paul Woodiel; Cello: Sarah Carter; Bass: Jim Donica; Flute/Alto Flute/Piccolo/Clarinet/Bass Clarinet/Alto Sax: Michael Migliori; Oboe/English Horn/Clarinet: Julie Ferrara; Guitar/Zither/Mandolin: Charles Rosen; Drums/Percussion: Bruce Doctor; Accordion: Charles Sauss; Music Copying: Kaye-Houston/Anne Kaye and Doug Houston

General Manager: Richards / Climan, Inc.; Company Manager: Bruce Klinger; Assistant Company Manager: Katie Titley; Technical Supervisor: Hudson Theatrical Associates; Associate Scenic Design: Jerome Martin; Associate Costume Design: Christopher Vergara; Associate Lighting Design: JAX Messenger; Associate Sound Design: Joshua D. Reid; Associate Hair and Wig Design: Giovanna Calabretta; Assistant Lighting Design: Wilburn Bonnell; Moving Light Programmer: Colin Scott; Casting: Calleri Casting; Press Representative: O&M Co.; Digital Advertising: Situation Interactive; Advertising & Marketing: Serino Coyne; Photographer: Joan Marcus

THE VISIT
PROMOTIONAL TV AD

Based on the satirical play by Friedrich Dürrenmatt as adapted by Maurice Valency, THE VISIT is about greed, love, and one woman’s carefully plotted revenge. The oft-widowed Claire Zachanassian (Chita Rivera), richest woman in the world, returns to the hardship-stricken town of her birth. The locals pray that her wealth will bring them a new lease on life, but her arrival carries a dreadful price. Roger Rees co-stars as Anton Schell, the man who scorned Claire years ago. Sardonic and morally complex, THE VISIT asks “What can your heart afford?”

Development history

THE VISIT, based on Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s 1956 Der Besuch der alten Dame, was originally developed as a vehicle for Angela Lansbury intended for a Broadway opening on March 15, 2001. It had been scheduled for a try-out in Boston for December 2000–January 2001. However, in July 2000 Lansbury withdrew due to the illness and subsequent death of her husband. Chita Rivera was signed as Lansbury’s replacement and the musical, directed by Frank Galati and choreographed by Ann Reinking, was staged with Chita Rivera and John McMartin by the Goodman Theatre, Chicago, opening on October 1, 2001. Galati said that because of the September 11, 2001 attacks the show did not move to Broadway. Another remount was staged at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia in 2008 starring Chita Rivera and George Hearn. Then in 2014, a one-act version of THE VISIT appeared at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts, running from July 31 to August 17, 2014, with a cast featuring Chita Rivera, Jason Danieley, Judy Kuhn and Roger Rees.


2001	2008	2014	2015

This Broadway production was licensed, contracted and partial deposit paid for a mainland China presentation, however, the frustrating illegal (and unethical) behavior of the CEO Zhang Yuan 张源 (President); Board Chairman Zhu Qiang 朱强 and Shareholder Wu Ping 吴萍 of the Chinese company, 圣频伽文化有限责任公司 (KALAVINKA CULTURAL ASSETS CO., LTD) and it’s Board of Directors repeatedly breached legal contracts, broke Chinese and international law, and evaded the truth by a systematic series of stalling tactics, deceit and outright lies compounding significant global issues with multiple major live entertainment companies and individuals and resulting in the cancellation of the presentation along with a trail of debt.