Donna McKechnie Talks Understudying Chita Rivera for THE VISIT

Tony Award-winner Donna McKechnie is the standby for the lead role of Claire Zachannassian in The Visit, currently playing on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street).

The actress recently spoke to the New York Post about acting as understudy for leading lady Chita Rivera, remarking, "This is my first Kander and Ebb show on Broadway, and I'm beside myself...I feel lucky to be there, but then I'm thinking, 'Oh my God, I'm going to be very nervous if I have to go onstage.'"

On Rivera, she said: "I've always admired her so much. There's no one like Chita. This part allows her to draw on her wealth of experience and knowledge. I'm just sitting there, counting my blessings to be in the same room."

The cast of THE VISIT is led by Tony Award Winners Chita Rivera as Claire Zachannassian and Roger Rees as Anton Schell. 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 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 Shadow as Ottilie, Timothy Shew as Hans Nusselin, with John Riddle and Michelle 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 playwright Terrence McNally. Helmed by Tony Award winning director John Doyle and choreographed by Tony Award nominee Graciela Daniele.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride