THE VISIT with Chita Rivera aiming for Broadway 2012?

[binau]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 9:47am

I just came back from Chita's "My Broadway" concert (she is currently in Australia), and she claimed that "we" are aiming for The Visit to reach Broadway next year....

Updated On: 6/22/11 at 09:47 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 9:48am

Oh wow! I wasn't aware they were even working on it still!

[once a month]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 10:11am

That's great! I enjoy the vast majority of this score and hope they can pull it off. The subject matter is so dark but what a fascinating story.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 10:13am

This would be thrilling!! I thought that after their regional production all that talk died.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 10:21am

Yes please!

[FrauleinKost]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 11:52am

Is it 2005 again??? Deja vu! Anyway, hope it's true.

[Will42]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 12:18pm

If I remember correctly the project was developed for Angela Lansbury almost 11 years ago and it was supposed to be her comeback to Broadway stage in almost 15 years of absents, but she had withdraw from it (and a couple of very interesting film projects) due to her late husband illness. Then Chita Rivera took over the leading role, but the musical never made it to Broadway.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 12:42pm

Interesting, then, that THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS was touted as "the final Broadway collaboration between Kander and Ebb".

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 1:04pm

I hope this is true!!

I believe THE VISIT was written before THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS. So technically SCOTTSBORO was their final collaboration.

[charlesjguiteau]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 1:10pm

God I hope Chita's right. Unfortunately she said the same thing about The Visit "coming to Broadway next year" back in her concert shows in 2008 and 2010.

Maybe THIS time...

[Finch]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 9:41pm

I saw it at the Signature in Virginia a couple of years ago--great cast, Chita Rivera, George Hearn. It was well done and had some interesting music. I remember working on a college production of The Visit way back in the 60s., and later on trying to figure out how it could ever be a musical. Well, Kander, Ebb and Signature figured it out--very effectively.

JPF

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 9:43pm

Yeah, I think the whole Visit team is dedicated to trying to get to the show to Broadway. Hopefully they succeed!

[Kad]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 9:48pm

It would probably behoove the production if it were a limited run under the auspices of a non-profit company in the city, such as Lincoln Center.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 9:52pm

"I believe THE VISIT was written before THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS. So technically SCOTTSBORO was their final collaboration."

This is certainly true. But I remember being struck when they said that it was the final Broadway collaboration on the Tonys (to me, at least, implying their last collaboration to play on Broadway) that this would become untrue should THE VISIT make it to Broadway. Technicalities, though. I would certainly see this should it be true.

[matty159]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 9:59pm

I would be thrilled if this finally made it here. I saw it at Signature and it is a production that has haunted and stuck with me since...in a good way. The performances, staging, and the score were wonderful and I count it among some of the best shows I have ever seen.

That being said...and I hadn't really thought about it until just reading Kad's post...it probably would best be suited for a run at a non-profit. Though, it belongs in an intimate off- Broadway house much like the Newhouse or the Pels (which despite my thoughts on Death Takes A Holiday, fit the show well). With Godspell taking the Circle (which would totally be ideal) and ROA setting up camp at the Hayes, this would be totally lost in a big Broadway house and would probably not be a commercial success.

Again, I hope Chita's sentiments prove true, but I hope it finds its way to NYC in a manner that suits the piece allows it to flourish.

[bk]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 10:02pm

Every time she says it's heading to B'way one of these threads appears. How many years is it now? Six? Every show everywhere is coming to Broadway.

[binau]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 10:08pm

Well, unless she's blatantly lying or senile at least it implies that the project hasn't been abandoned, which is always good news?

[bk]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 11:35pm

She's doing what all actors do. Nothing hard to understand about that. Was she blatantly lying in 2006, 2008, and 2009 when she said it was coming in in those years? No, she was just doing what all actors do.

[Brick]

Posted: 6/22/11 at 11:48pm

I can't imagine there isn't renewed interest after the 12 Tony nods of SCOTSBORRO BOYS. Yes, it didn't find an audience but it was remembered well. Plus, it's receiving 2 top-tier regional theatre prods next season.

I, for one, hope it happens. I was disappointed when the planned Public production fell through.

[bk]

Posted: 6/23/11 at 12:24am

Yes, I'm sure producers are lining up to lose more money. But the beauty part is that in two years when she announces it's coming to Broadway in 2014 you can be excited all over again.

[binau]

Posted: 6/23/11 at 9:43am

2014? Did you not read my post, bk? It's coming to Broadway in 2012. I've booked my flights and hotels, and cancelled my psychiatrist appointments because the news has cured my depression. Last time a production of this show fell through I nearly committed suicide I was so disappointed, but this time it's different. Because I know that it is going to come true, thanks Chita!

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/23/11 at 9:47am

As awesome as the prospect of this finally reaching Broadway is, I'll believe it when it happens.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 6/23/11 at 1:06pm

Saw it in Chicago. Great grande dame role for Chita, who got to show what a fine actress she is. However, if there is a great musical to be made from Durenmatt's play, this is not it.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/23/11 at 5:47pm

I'm hoping Chita's name will be enough to generate some sales. Otherwise, the show will most likely go the way of The Scottsboro Boys. Only with far less choreography. The story is very dark with some rather bizarre characters that are fascinating and a bit more expected in a play, but as a musical, the score struggles to mesh well with the story in a way that enhances the original play. I don't see it as something that will be commercially successful, though the critics will probably praise it and musical theatre fans will gush profusely. I found it an interesting show, but think of it rarely.

[shomeika]

Posted: 6/23/11 at 9:30pm

YES PLEASE!