The Actors Fund and the Vineyard Theatre presented a one-night-only benefit concert performance of THE VISIT, starring Broadway stage legends and Tony Award winners Chita Rivera and John Cullum, last night, November 30. Broadway Beat got exclusive coverage of the show and brings you highlights, in addition to company interviews, below!
Directed by Carl Andress with choreography by Tony Award winner Ann Reinking, musical direction by Jon Kalbfleisch and musical supervision and vocal/dance arrangements by David Loud, the performance took place at Broadway's Ambassador Theatre, the current home of the celebrated revival of Kander & Ebb's worldwide smash Chicago.
THE VISIT is a new musical based on the classic Friedrich Dürrenmatt play (adapted by Maurice Valency) with a book by Tony Award winner Terrence McNally, music by Tony Award winner John Kander and lyrics by Tony Award winner Fred Ebb.
Claire Zachanassian (Rivera) was driven from her hometown in disgrace when she was 17, having been betrayed by her lover Anton Schell (Cullum). Several decades and seven husbands later, Zachanassian has become the richest woman in the world, yet her hometown has fallen on hard times. When Zachanassian returns with an offer to save the town, salvation comes with an outrageous price tag.
THE VISIT featured Linda Balgord, D.B. Bonds, Matthew Deming, Alan H. Green, James Harms, Michael Hayward-Jones, Joy Hermalym, Howard Kaye, Doug Kreeger, Mary Ann Lamb, Jerry Lanning, Ryan Lowe, Brianne Moore, Karen Murphy, Brian O'Brien, Kevin Reed, Hal Robinson, Dana Steingold, Rebecca Strimaitis, Jeremy Webb and Tony Award nominee Mark Jacoby as The Mayor.
THE VISIT had its world premiere at Chicago's Goodman Theatre and was subsequently produced at The Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA. This one-night-only concert event of THE VISIT is sponsored by United Airlines, the New York Marriott Marquis and The New York Times.
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