Breaking News: Broadway Legend Donna McKechnie Will Standby for Chita Rivera in THE VISIT on Broadway!

Producers announced today that Tony® Award-winner Donna McKechnie will be the STANDBY for the lead role of Claire Zachannassian in the highly anticipated musical, The Visit, soon to open on Broadway. 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. Tickets are now available on Telecharge.com.

"Who else could go on for a Broadway legend like Ms. Rivera but another Broadway legend?" said producer Tom Kirdahy. "The tradition of an actor standing by, should the star not be able to perform, though unlikely in Ms. Rivera's case, has been turned on its ear by this news. We are ecstatic that Donna is joining our company."

The cast 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. 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.

The Visit is produced by Tom Kirdahy, Tom Smedes, Hugh Hayes, Peter Stern, Judith Ann Abrams, Hunter Arnold, Carl Daikeler, Ken Davenport, Rich Affannato, Gabrielle Palitz, in association with Williamstown Theatre Festival.