TV: John Kander Blows Out His Birthday Candles in Rehearsal for THE VISIT!

The highly anticipated musical, The Visit, will begin performances at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street) on Thursday, March 26 with an Opening Night set for Thursday, April 23. The cast is led by Tony Award® Winners Chita Rivera as Claire Zachannassian and Roger Rees as Anton Schell. John Kander, who wrote the music for the show, just celebrated his 88th birthday, and the company treated him to a birthday surprise during a break in rehearsal. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there, and you can go inside the festivities below!

The Broadway cast also features George Abud as Karl, Jason Danieley as Frederich Kuhn, Matthew Deming as Louis Perch, Diana Dimarzio as Annie Dummermut, Tony® Award nominee David Garrisonas 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 Shadow as Ottilie, Timothy Shew as Hans Nusselin, with John Riddle andMichelle Veintimilla.

Based on the satirical play by Friedrich Dürrenmatt as adapted by Maurice Valency, The Visit features music and lyrics by the Tony Award® winning team John Kander & Fred Ebb, book by fourtime Tony Award® winning playwrightTerrence McNally. It will open on Broadway this spring, starring two-time Tony Award® winning Broadway legend Chita Rivera and Tony Award® winner Roger Rees. Helmed by Tony Award® winning director John Doyle and choreographed by Tony Award® nominee Graciela Daniele.