The musical, which ended its Broadway run June 14, received its Broadway debut March 26 at the Lyceum Theatre. It officially opened April 23. Read reviews here.
Based on Friedrich Dürrenmatt's 1956 play, The Visit has a score by Tony Award-winning Cabaret, Chicago and Kiss of the Spider Woman collaborators John Kander (music) and the late Fred Ebb (lyrics). The musical features a book by Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally (Kiss of the Spider Woman, Master Class, It's Only a Play).
The Visit marks the third collaboration for Kander, Ebb, McNally and Rivera. The artists previously worked together on The Rink (1984) and Kiss of the Spider Woman (1993), both of which led Rivera to Tony Award wins for her performances.
To download the album, visit BroadwayRecords.com. The Visit will now arrive in stores July 10. It was previously slated for a June 30 release.
Photo Call: The Visit Comes to an End; Chita Rivera and Cast Take Their Emotional Final Bow
The show was nominated for Best Score, Best Book, Best Actress (Rivera), Best Lighting and Best Musical.
Rivera originated the role of Claire Zachanassian when The Visit had its debut in September 2001 at Chicago's Goodman Theatre and later repeated her work at the Signature Theatre in 2008 and at Williamstown.
She was reunited on Broadway with her Williamstown co-star Roger Rees, who played her long-ago lover Anton Schell. In recent weeks, Rees was forced to depart the production due to health issues. Tom Nelis took over the role of Anton.
Below, Rivera and Rees perform "In the Forest Again," the final duet for Claire and Anton.
Upon closing, The Visit played 32 previews and 40 performances. Producer Tom Kirdahy ushered The Visit to Broadway after a run at the Williamstown Theatre Festival last summer.
Tony Award-winning director John Doyle (Sweeney Todd, Company) reshaped the musical's original two-act format into a new, 95-minute intermissionless version. The Visit features choreography by Tony Award nominee Graciela Daniele.
The cast also features George Abud as Karl, Jason Danieley as Frederich Kuhn, Matthew Deming as Louis Perch, Diana Dimarzio as Annie Dummermut, Tony nominee David Garrison as Peter Dummermut, Rick Holmes as Father Josef, Tom Nelis as Rudi, Chris Newcomer as Jacob Chicken, Mary Beth Peil as Matilde Schell, Aaron Ramey as Otto Hahnke, Elena Shaddow as Ottilie, Timothy Shew as Hans Nusselin, with John Riddle and Michelle Veintimilla.
Fifteen years have passed since the public first heard of the project, which is based on the dark comedy by Swiss playwright Durrenmatt. In the story, millionairess Claire Zachanassian returns to the town where she grew up to wreak revenge on the man who did her wrong back in her youth. Read: Many Visits Along the Way: The Long History of Broadway’s Latest Kander & Ebb Musical
Here's how the plot is billed: "In her juiciest role yet, Chita Rivera is Claire Zachannassian, the world's wealthiest woman, who returns home to Anton Schell (Roger Rees) who captured her heart then shattered her dreams. What she does next shocks the town and makes for the most thrilling and intriguing musical in years... This tale of romance, seduction and betrayal proves that revenge is the best revenge."
The creative team includes Tony-winning scenic designer Scott Pask, Tony-winning costume designer Ann Hould-Ward, Tony-winning orchestrator Larry Hochman, Tony Honoree for Excellence Paul Huntley (hair and wig design), Tony nominee Japhy Weideman (lighting design), Tony nominee Dan Moses Schreier (sound design), J. Jared Janas (make up design) and veteran musical director/supervisor David Loud.
The Broadway run is produced by Tom Kirdahy, 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, Gabrielle Palitz/Weatherby & Fishman LLC, Marguerite Hoffman/Jeremy Youett, Carlos Arana/Terry Loftis, Veenerick & Katherine Vos Van Liempt, 42nd.Club/Silva Theatrical and The Shubert Organization, in association with Williamstown Theatre Festival.
For further information, go to thevisitmusical.com.
See highlights below:
