Tom Kitt/Yorkey Musical "The Visitor" starring David Hyde Pierce

[binau]

Posted: 7/31/19 at 4:16pm

And Ari’el Stachel.

Is there a thread about this?

https://www.publictheater.org/Tickets/Calendar/PlayDetailsCollection/19-20-Season/The-Visitor/

Directed by Daniel Sullivan

In my mind, this is the pair's last chance to prove they aren't a one-hit wonder. It sounds promising. 

[DrowsyKaye]

Posted: 7/31/19 at 4:24pm

I do love the original film this is based on, and David Hyde Pierce, I suppose, is the Celebrity Theater Equivalent of Richard Jenkins (my vote would've been for Peter Friedman for this role, but I "get it" I guess).
I do worry about that Kitt/Yorkey score. Nothing in their catalog makes me think this atmosphere of a show would be up their alley. I'm super excited to be surprised and proven wrong though!

Updated On: 7/31/19 at 04:24 PM

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 8/1/19 at 12:08am

I don’t find Kitt/Yorkey to be a one-hit-wonder. Although N2N is clearly their best work, I don’t think that the score to If/Then is half bad. Also, although it’s only Kitt’s work (without Yorkey) I find his orchestrations for American Idiot to be gorgeous. I think that they will churn out work in the future that will further prove them to be high quality writers.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/1/19 at 12:10pm

It's an unrelated show but I really enjoy listening to David Hyde Pierce on The Landing cast album. Especially part 3 which I think is a stronger piece than the first two. The Visitor sounds interesting too and I think he might be a great choice for this project as well.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/1/19 at 12:55pm

I agree that Kitt & Yorkey are totally hit-or-miss, but for The Visitor they're actually working with source material (the book/story was my biggest problem with If/Then), and Kwame Kwei-Armah is co-writing the book with Yorkey. Both those things make me optimistic.

However, Daniel Sullivan has never directed a musical (at age 79), and his recent plays have varied in quality.

[BwayinVan]

Posted: 2/16/20 at 11:52am

This show really intrigues me, especially with the cast announced. I know nobody knows anything about any of the songs etc... but stuggling to decide if I pull the trigger. Unfortunately there is no evening performance May 3 so if I see this I may have to replace one of the other shows I’m considering (likely The minutes or Virginia Woolf). I wonder if/when they will do a press event so we can get a sense of the songs.

[steven22]

Posted: 2/16/20 at 11:57am

I'm very excited for this. Kitt and Yorkey do great work together.

[inception]

Posted: 2/16/20 at 2:55pm

If this does well, would they be looking at an autumn transfer, or would they wait until next spring?

[DCDrama2]

Posted: 7/2/21 at 2:37pm

Anyone have any insights into the return or not of this show?

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 7/2/21 at 4:08pm

Not the THE VISITOR movie adaptation I was hoping for.

The Visitor Official Re-Release Trailer (1979) - Sci-Fi Horror Movie HD - YouTube

 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 9/28/21 at 4:29pm

The show's first preview has been delayed by a week to 10/14, with matinee cancellations on 10/16, 10/17, 10/23, and 10/24:

"Over the past 18 months, conversations and commitments around equity and anti-racism have deepened across our organization and our industry. Our production of THE VISITOR brings up important questions about race, representation, and identity, and we’ve taken the time as a company to listen to each other and discuss, to respond to these issues, and to continue to develop THE VISITOR with changes that reflect how our broader culture has grown.

To do this work thoughtfully, we gave extra time to our process and have decided to delay our first preview by a week. Our first preview will now be on October 14.

The work on this show has been compelling for us, and we’re looking forward to sharing it with you."

THE VISITOR SCHEDULE SHIFT (publictheater.org)

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 9/28/21 at 4:31pm

I was actually looking at the schedule today to find information out about the free first preview and noticed all the cancelled performances. I wonder if the reschedule first preview will still be free.

ETA: It looks like the free performance will now be Nov 23 which sucks because I'll be out of town by then.

Updated On: 9/28/21 at 04:31 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 9/28/21 at 5:30pm

I know it's an intimate musical, but Daniel Sullivan is such an odd choice to direct this. I wonder if that has anything to do with the delay.

[binau]

Posted: 9/28/21 at 5:34pm

I should clarify that I did mean a hit as a pair. Both seem to be having their own successful independent careers!

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 9/29/21 at 8:50am

You know, I try to be understanding of the covid issues theatre are facing. But The Public has pissed me off far too many times with moves like this pre-pandemic.

Like when they canceled the final week of sold out HAMLET'S matinees because the cast was "tired". Leaving those of us with tickets unable to see it. 

And now they've canceled the preview seats we had, and offered us to rebook at the end of the run - a higher price.

Do they issue a refund, or the process of rebooking for you? No. They put it in your account to rebook on your own - if you can find a similar seat at the same price - or encourage you to donate it. How much money did Oskar make during the pandemic while staff was laid off? 

I've requested a refund, and I'll try to nab a rush ticket on TodayTix. If not, I'm not meant to see it. I'm tired of supporting the Public when they pull stunts like this. 

[Hamilfan2]

Posted: 9/29/21 at 10:43am

iluvtheatertrash said: "You know, I try to be understanding of the covid issues theatre are facing. But The Public has pissed me off far too many times with moves like this pre-pandemic.

Like when they canceled the final week of sold out HAMLET'S matinees because the cast was "tired". Leaving those of us with tickets unable to see it.

And now they've canceled the preview seats we had, and offered us to rebook at the end of the run - a higher price.

Do they issue a refund, or the process of rebooking for you? No. They put it in your account to rebook on your own - if you can find a similar seat at the same price - or encourage you to donate it. How much money did Oskar make during the pandemic while staff was laid off?

I've requested a refund, and I'll try to nab a rush ticket on TodayTix. If not, I'm not meant to see it. I'm tired of supporting the Public when they pull stunts like this."

If these “stunts” mean ensuring the safety and well-being of the cast and crew that work on their shows than I am all for them.  Trust me, cancelling a week of sold out shows is not making them any money.  This isn’t about greed, it’s about putting people above profit.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 9/29/21 at 11:18am

The stunts aren’t the cancellation. The stunts are the way they behave once they’ve done it, and the hoops they make you jump thru for a refund once they’ve left you with only an option to book at a higher price.

My issue is with how they handle the process of cancellations for their audiences, not that they have to make the cancellation.

So spare me.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 9/29/21 at 11:21am

And yes, they do make money when they cancel a week of reduced price previews and replace it with a week of tickets at a higher price.

Care to chat about how much money Oskar made last year while his staff was laid off? I’ll wait.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 9/29/21 at 11:26am

And while I am at it, why doesn’t the Public do the work of helping their customers rebook comparable seats at the same price like other theaters do? Instead, I’m forced to “request” my refund or it sits in my account unless of course I just want to donate it.

Safety is one discussion. Good for them for that. It’s how they handle cancellations that irk me. They did it pre covid and they’re doing it again.

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 9/29/21 at 11:28am

I completely understand wanting to work these discussions into the rehearsal process and I think it's great the production is doing this.  The part that's unacceptable is this needed to be planned into the rehearsal process from the beginning, not just decided a week before the first preview that they needed more time.  Part of the production team's job during a rehearsal process is to plan rehearsal time so that they're ready for the first performance.  Like any other job, they have deadlines, in this case the first preview.  And it's not as though these topics haven't been brought up for the last 18 months, so they had plenty of time to adjust their rehearsal period prior to a week out from the start of performances.  And that's where the Public and the production failed in this case.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 9/29/21 at 11:29am

I'm not seeing a price difference. Except for Amex tickets, seats were always $90 throughout the run, and still are.

Updated On: 9/29/21 at 11:29 AM

[Anotherdayofmadness]

Posted: 9/29/21 at 11:50am

$30 tix using code HEARTBEAT saw it on a FB ad and it worked for me!

Updated On: 9/29/21 at 11:50 AM

[blaxx]

Posted: 9/29/21 at 11:52am

Broadway61004 said: "I completely understand wanting to work these discussions into the rehearsal process and I think it's great the production is doing this. The part that's unacceptable is this needed to be planned into the rehearsal process from the beginning, not just decided a week before the first preview that they needed more time. Part of the production team's job during a rehearsal process is to plan rehearsal time so that they're ready for the first performance. Like any other job, they have deadlines, in this case the first preview. And it's not as though these topics haven't been brought up for the last 18 months, so they had plenty of time to adjust their rehearsal period prior to a week out from the start of performances. And that's where the Public and the production failed in this case."

It was always a white savior story, they are suddenly more aware of it?  They didn't think enough of the source material before running to adapt it.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 9/29/21 at 12:39pm

Thanks for letting me know the price didn’t change. To be honest, I didn’t bother looking because pre-covid that’s how it would always go. Guess I was silly to be so annoyed. I just often feel that the Public does some sketchy things when it comes to refunds/cancellations.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 9/29/21 at 12:45pm

Anotherdayofmadness said: "$30 tix using code HEARTBEAT saw it on an FB ad and it worked for me!"

Thanks so much! Just got some great seats at a reasonable price.