'The Visit' 0n Broadway!

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 6:21am

After the disastrous saga of 'Glory Days' has been forgotten, maybe Signature Theatre may like to pay another visit to Broadway with their latest musical 'The Visit' ?
Great pedigree there for a moderate hit, or more!
Chita back on Broadway cant be a bad thing for the Great White Way!
Kander and Ebb keeping their names up in lights too along side 'Chicago' and for a little while longer, 'Curtains!'!

Updated On: 5/13/08 at 06:21 AM

[jeniferrenepatricia]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 6:22am

Plus, Ann Reinking's choreography!!!! The whole package sounds great!!!

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 6:31am

Now in such a wonderful package its about time this gorgeous little show made its New York debut. Please!

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 7:10am

The stage play THE VISIT premiered at the grand re-opening of the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in 1957, starring (appropriately)
the great American actors Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne who were married to each other.

[Urban]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 7:37am

Sounds like a musical about a women's menstrual cycle.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 7:39am

???

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 9:12am

LOL @ Urban!

[philcrosby]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 9:44am

After its run at the Signature, it is scheduled to go to the Public Theatre in NYC.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 10:04am

Really? Kewl!

Has The Public announced their new season?

[BWF]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 10:06am

I dream of a cast recording of this, fabulous songs...

[tgrabon]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 10:07am

I saw The Visit at Chicago's Goodman Theatre in 2001 and found it perfectly dark, great choreography, wonderful songs. Kander & Ebb out did themselves with this show. I wish it well at Signature and in NYC.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 10:12am

I saw The Visit at the Goodman. Do not expect a hit. A couple of decent songs. Bizarre dark story about love, spite, greed and death including an entourage of blind castrati. The leading lady is known for her dancing, but plays a character with a wooden leg. And as for Reinking choreography, there's very little at all. The one big production number is when everyone in the town buys yellow shoes. The song is called "Yellow Shoes". I know, right?

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 10:15am

Sounds like the great Kander/Ebb ended their partnership on a challenging note. LOOOVE it!!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 10:27am

Challenging it is. More challenging than Steel Pier, if you ask me. I did find it an interesting show. Much better than Bounce, actually. But it will be one of those shows that will probably become a flop with a big cult following and everyone will moan about how it deserved so much better yadda yadda yadda. Realistically, it should probably only get picked up by the Roundabout or Lincoln Center.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 10:30am

On the other hand, audiences may be more receptive to the challenge of it all since--how to put this?--death is on their side. This is the last collaboration of the most successful writing team in American musical theatre history.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 10:41am

Borstal - That's a very optimistic response, but I'm afraid a little unrealistic. Broadway audiences probably won't know who Kander and Ebb are. Sure, they will recognize Chicago and maybe Cabaret and then get pissed that this show is like neither. It's not sexy, very little dancing, the humor is very dark and very subtle, and the dramatic tension in the plot is overshadowed by its absurdity, so it's difficult to get emotionally invested in the characters. It's like riding one revolution on a broken carousel. It's interesting, but unfulfilling and you went nowhere.

[MungoGypsy8232]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 10:45am

Chita needs her 10th Tony nom!

[Smaxie]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 11:21am

The Washington production is not the Chicago production. Galati and Reinking have overhauled their work. There are two new songs and other musical changes throughout and the design concept is entirely new. The odd elements, like Claire's wooden leg and the castrati are all featured in the original play. I think the score is sublime and can't wait to see the actual production this week.

[matty159]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 11:26am

That is what I thought, Smaxie. When I got my tickets at the box office, I thought I recalled the girl telling me they had done a lot of work since Chicago and are continuing to toy with it. I am so excited to see it!

Posted: 5/13/08 at 12:12pm

Yellow Shoes, despite it's odd name, was one of the most chilling moments I've ever seen in a Musical. It's been years since I saw The Visit and I still think about that scene.

[hockeynut2]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 12:28pm

I am taking 62 members of my social group The Ushers www.ushers.us and Footlights, a drama discussion group, this Sunday to see The Visit. It's my birthday, and what better way to spend it - watching Chita Rivera, George Hearn and Mark Jacoby, three of my favorite musical stars. I'll let you know what I think on Monday. I'm hoping for the best, and wish everyone involved in the Signature production great success! Joel
Podcast of John Kander and Richard Seff at John Kander's Home

[matty159]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 12:44pm

Enjoy the show, Joel. I can't wait to hear what you thought of it!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 12:46pm

I don't know where the Public Theatre rumour comes from but as of now there are no definite plans yet.

I am very excited about this show and I wish them well on their first preview tonight!

[matty159]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 12:51pm

I thought it was rumored for the Public several seasons back, but that never materialized. I didn't know anything about this particular production headed to the Public...only Bounce.

[WickedBoy2]

Posted: 5/13/08 at 1:07pm

The Public theatre season was supposed to have been years ago, sadly not this production!