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The Visit - 2008 at Signature

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#1

The Visit - 2008 at Signature

Posted: 6/14/07 at 12:13am

Does anyone remember this being announced? I sure don't...

From the Signature Theatre (VA) website:

A New Musical
THE VISIT
Music by John Kander
Lyrics by Fred Ebb
Book by Terrence McNally
Based on the play The Visit by Friedrich Dürrenmatt
Choreographed by Ann Reinking
Directed by Frank Galati

Two-time Tony® winner Chita Rivera stars in this new musical based on one of the great plays of the 20th century. The Visit centers on Claire Zachanassian, who was driven from her hometown in disgrace when she was 17, betrayed by her lover Anton Schell. 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 to her hometown with an offer to save them, salvation comes with an outrageous price tag.

May 13 - June 22, 2008


Updated On: 6/14/07 at 12:13 AM

#2

re: The Visit - 2008 at Signature

Posted: 6/14/07 at 1:45am

hasn't the musical version of The Visit played outside of New York a few years ago?? I can't remember if it was Chita Rivera or someone else? I'd love for it to transfer to Broadway!! To me, there is no such thing as a "bad" Kander and Ebb show - sometimes the productions have errors, but the scores are always phenomenal!!
#3

re: The Visit - 2008 at Signature

Posted: 6/14/07 at 2:32am

THE VISIT played at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago back in 2001, I believe. Angela Lansbury was supposed to star in it but then backed out and Chita replaced her and played the main role opposite John McMartin. I believe back then it was deemed as a pre-Broadway try out but nothing came out of it. This will be Chita's second time doing a professional run of the show.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#4

re: The Visit - 2008 at Signature

Posted: 6/14/07 at 11:11am

Well, its about fawking time! I'm so excited to see this!
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali
#5

re: The Visit - 2008 at Signature

Posted: 6/14/07 at 12:58pm

*LOVE* this play and it's PERFECT material for a musical!! A great character for Kander & Ebb. Why I haven't heard of this before is beyond me. Bring it to Broadway, please!
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
#8

re: The Visit - 2008 at Signature

Posted: 6/14/07 at 2:37pm

This musical was all set to come to Broadway, and Jeffrey Seller (RENT, AVENUE Q) pulled his financing at the last minute. Killed it. My friend was the producer.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
#9

re: The Visit - 2008 at Signature

Posted: 6/14/07 at 2:41pm

I saw it at the Goodman. It was interesting to watch, but the score was mostly forgettable. Very bizarre show. It's a show for theatre fans, but I doubt it would be a commercial success. The creepy castrati guys singing soprano would be enough to have tourist storming the box office for a refund.

And Chita playing a woman with a wooden leg? With "choreography"? Well...it's not going to be the next Cabaret or Chicago.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#10

re: The Visit - 2008 at Signature

Posted: 6/14/07 at 2:42pm

I heard Doyle was set to direct, and Chita's gonna play that wooden leg like no one's business.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
#11

re: The Visit - 2008 at Signature

Posted: 6/14/07 at 3:04pm

The wooden leg didn't stop Chita from dancing in Chicago. It was an interesting evening in the theater, to be sure, but odd is an understatement. I don't recall too much except the "Yellow Shoes" number which was spectacularly chilling.
#12

re: The Visit - 2008 at Signature

Posted: 6/14/07 at 3:14pm

I also was (un)fortunate enough to see this in Chicago. Chita's talent is wasted. Why cast a dancer to play a character with a wooden leg?

The show was.... interesting... but the music was not very good and the only thing that I remember is the "Yellow Shoes" number. Bizzare. And not in a good way. I don't see this ever going to Broadway.
#13

re: The Visit - 2008 at Signature

Posted: 6/14/07 at 3:38pm

I have the soundboard from this show and I'm not sure how much of it is taken by seeing the shoe live, but the score for the most part is rather weak, and this is coming from a Kander & Ebb fan. Maybe the revised version will be a hit?
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#14

re: The Visit - 2008 at Signature

Posted: 6/14/07 at 3:53pm

Wasn't the Public going to mount it (off-Broadway) and then pulled ioit from its season?
#15

re: The Visit - 2008 at Signature

Posted: 6/14/07 at 4:08pm

Yup
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#16

re: The Visit - 2008 at Signature

Posted: 6/14/07 at 4:18pm

I was reading about the original play the other day and the role of Clare was played by Lynn Fontaine who was very vain concerning her legs and wore dresses with slits to show them off, even in this production where she supposedly had a wooden leg. So I guess Chita ain't the first gal to flaunt her glorious gams in the this part.

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