Kander & Ebbs The Visit

[sholmes2]

Was this every released for amateur performance licensing?

[¿Macavity?]

I don't think so. I check a few times each year and last time I looked there's still nothing on amateur licensing.

I hope to see a production of this one day. (*sigh*)

[JBroadway]

I hated this show when I saw it on Broadway, but later gained some appreciation for it via the cast album, as well as seeing the Kushner's adaptation of the Durenmatt play in London last year (totally unaffiliated, but nevertheless, made me appreciate the story and themes).

My running theory, as always, is that Dull Doyle is responsible for screwing it up. I hope it does go to licensing so that other directors can give it another go. 

[davidbrian81]

I saw this in Chicago  around 2000.  It is to this day the movst moving, eerie, beautiful thing i have ever seen on stage.  I've never been one for remembering music to something I've seen just once.  I had the songs stuck in my head for years, before I finally found the demo recordings.  What I saw on broadway was a bastardization of what I remember in Chicago.  It felt like all the heart was cut out of the show.  Lifeless.  At least most of the music is on the cast recording. And I still have "You Know Me" on the demo. 

[CATSNYrevival]

Who directed it in Chicago?

[AEA AGMA SM]

The Goodman production was in 2001, directed by Frank Galati with choreography by Ann Reinking. Galati claimed that there had been talks about moving it to Broadway after that run, but that it was scuttled by 9/11 and the fact that very few people were willing to fly in from NY to see it. In addition the dark subject matter made it unlikely to be any sort of success in NY at the time. 

John Doyle didn't really become involved with the property until the 2014 Williamstown Theatre Festival production.

[aliceripleyofficial]

The broadway production was one of my favorite theatergoing experiences and I hope to see it again in some capacity.

[darreyl102]

One of my favorite stage door memories came from when I saw the show in 2016, and we were waiting for Chita Rivera to come out (who was absolutely lovely and gracious at the stage door). it took a little bit of time for her to come out, and while we were waiting someone came up to us and asked us who we were all waiting for. I replied "Chita Rivera", and the lady responded in the most Jersey of accents: "What's a Chita Rivera? Is that a person?" . To which reduced me to tears of laughter

[fashionguru_23]

darreyl102 said: "One of my favorite stage door memories came from when I saw the show in 2016, and we were waiting for Chita Rivera to come out (who was absolutely lovely and gracious at the stage door). it took a little bit of time for her to come out, and while we were waiting someone came up to us and asked us who we were all waiting for. I replied "Chita Rivera", and the lady responded in the most Jersey of accents: "What's a Chita Rivera? Is that a person?" . To which reduced me to tears of laughter"

I can confirm that at the stage door Ms. Rivera is nothing but lovely and gracious.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

What other actresses (besides Chita) have been involved with this show? I think at some point I heard Angela Lansbury being tied to a reading or a previous production.

[JBroadway]

Based on the Wikipedia page: it sounds like Rivera came onto the project right after Lansbury, but maybe they had someone else behind the scenes at some point.

Also, I see that there was a production with Zoe Caldwell in 2003, but it seems that this was unaffiliated with the primary production that kicked around in development hell for all those years. 

[cliffordbradshaw2]

Zoe Caldwell did not do the musical; she did the original play "The Visit," the source material for the musical.

[JBroadway]

cliffordbradshaw2 said: "Zoe Caldwell did not do the musical; she did the original play "The Visit," the source material for the musical."

Ah, yes! So I now see. Someone needs to change the Wikipedia page then. Who would've thought that *gasp* Wikipedia could be wrong! 

[¿Macavity?]

I believe it was written for Angela but she backed out because of her husband's failing health. Sad situation, he passed a couple years later. I'm sure she would have been thrilling in the role and it's hard not to be curious...

[qolbinau]

In Kander & Ebb's book 'coloured lights' they explain that several women were approached for the role:

1. Angela Lansbury, who of course dropped out (there is a demo recording of her singing Love and Love alone on YouTube, which is fantastic. I can easily imagine her facial expressions)

2. Glenn Close was then approach who 'turned us down'

3. Judy Dench was approached but wasn't available

4. Shirley MacLaine was 'interested at first' but then had a conflict

However, ultimately John Kander believes that there are 3 people who he thought were perfect for the part: "One was Angie, one was Judi Dench, and one was Chita. I still feel that way. As far as I'm concerned, we got one of my top three performers and nobody will ever be better in this part than Chita. She gives the performance of a lifetime".

I personally think the part is wonderful and I am excited that it will provide Donna Murphy, Patti LuPone or Bernadette Peters something to play in the future. 

[JBroadway]

Lest we forget that the great Donna McKechnie was hired to be Chita's STANDBY for the Broadway production, but (IIRC) never once got to go on.