Signature announces complete casting for 'The Visit'

Signature Theatre (Eric Schaeffer, Artistic Director) is pleased to announce complete casting for THE VISIT.  The East Coast premiere of THE VISIT is the final mainstage show in the theatre's Kander & Ebb Celebration, a four-month festival devoted to the works of John Kander & Fred Ebb, the longest song-writing partnership in the history of the American musical theater.
 
THE VISIT stars two-time Tony Award® winners Chita Rivera and George Hearn with Mark Jacoby, and features a book by Terrence McNally, music by John Kander, and lyrics by Fred Ebb, based on the play by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, adapted by Maurice Valency.  The production will be choreographed by Ann Reinking and directed by Frank Galati.  THE VISIT will be performed from May 13 through June 22 in Signature's MAX Theatre.
 
One of the great plays of the 20th century, THE VISIT tells the story of Claire Zachanassian (Chita Rivera), who was driven from her hometown in disgrace when she was 17, having been betrayed by her lover, Anton (George Hearn). 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 with an offer to save the town, salvation comes with an outrageous price tag.  The musical THE VISIT had its world premiere at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago in October, 2001.
 
The production will also star Mark Jacoby as The Mayor, with Bethe B. Austin (Annie), Leslie Becker (Townsperson), D.B. Bonds (Young Anton), Matthew Deming (Louis Perch), Alan H. Green (Benny), James Harms (Rudi), Michael Hayward-Jones (The Priest), Howard Kaye (Lenny), Doug Kreeger (Evgeny), Mary Ann Lamb (Young Claire), Jerry Lanning (The Doctor), Ryan Lowe (Jacob Chicken), Karen Murphy (Matilda), Brianne Moore (Townsperson), Christy Morton (Townsperson), Brian O'Brien (Kurt), Cristen Paige (Ottilie), Kevin Reed (Karl), Hal Robinson (The Policeman), and Jeremy Webb (The Schoolmaster).
 
THE VISIT will feature set design by Derek McLane, costume design by Susan Hilferty, lighting design by Howell Binkley, and sound design by Matt Rowe.  Orchestrations are by Michael Gibson with additional orchestrations by Larry Hochman. Musical supervision and vocal and dance arrangements are by David Loud.  The musical conductor is Jon Kalbfleisch.
 
Tickets to THE VISIT are $40 - $69 and are now on sale at Ticketmaster by calling (703) 573-SEAT (7328), or by visiting www.signature-theatre.org. 
 
 
BIOGRAPHIES

Chita Rivera (Claire) An accomplished and versatile actress/singer/dancer, Ms. Rivera has won two Tony Awards (Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Rink) and received seven additional Tony® nominations. She recently starred on Broadway and on national tour in Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life and in the revival of the musical Nine with Antonio Banderas. In December, 2002, she received the coveted Kennedy Center Honor in Washington, DC. Ms. Rivera created the role of Velma Kelly in the original Broadway production of Chicago opposite Gwen Verdon (1975) and appears in the film version. Chita starred in the London, Las Vegas and Toronto productions of Chicago The Musical. Her recent starring roles include The Visit (Goodman Theatre) and The House of Bernarda Alba (Mark Taper Forum). Chita trained as a ballerina (age 11) before receiving a scholarship to the American School of Ballet from the legendary George Balanchine. Her first appearance (age 17) was in the chorus of Call Me Madam. Her electric performance as Anita in the Broadway premiere of West Side Story (1957) brought her stardom, which was repeated in London. Her career is highlighted by starring roles in Bye Bye Birdie and Jerry's Girls (original Broadway casts), Guys and Dolls, Can-Can, Seventh Heaven and Mr. Wonderful. On tour: Born Yesterday; The Rose Tattoo; Call Me Madam; Threepenny Opera; Sweet Charity; Kiss Me, Kate; Zorba; and Can-Can with the Rockettes. Chita played Nicky in the film version of Sweet Charity with Shirley MacLaine. Her most treasured production is her daughter, singer/dancer/choreographer Lisa Mordente.
 
George Hearn (Anton)  Broadway: Wicked, Putting It Together (Tony® nomination); The Diary of Anne Frank; Sunset Boulevard (Tony® Award); La Cage aux Folles (Tony® Award, Olivier nomination); Sweeney Todd with Angela Lansbury (Emmy Award for TV version); I Remember Mama with Liv Ullman; Ah, Wilderness! with Colleen Dewhurst and Jason Robards; A Doll's Life (Tony® nomination); An Almost Perfect Person; The Changing Room; Meet Me in St. Louis; and Watch on the Rhine (Tony® nomination). He appeared in Follies in Concert at Avery Fisher Hall and also starred there with Patti LuPone in a concert version of Sweeney Todd, which they reprised in San Francisco and Chicago. He was seen in many productions at the NYSF and at the Long Wharf. TV includes Hallmark Hall of Fame's "Durango" and "Sarah Plain and Tall, III," and guest spots on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Murder, She Wrote." Films include See You in the Morning, The Vanishing, Sneakers, The Devil's Own and Barney's Great Adventure.
 
Mark Jacoby (The Mayor)  Broadway: Padre, Man of La Mancha, Original Father, Ragtime; Gaylord Ravenal, Showboat (Tony®, Outer Critics, and Joseph Jefferson Award nominations); the Phantom, The Phantom of the Opera; Baron von Gaigern, Grand Hotel; Vitorio Vidal, Sweet Charity (Theatre World Award). Off-Broadway: the Playwright, Enter the Guardsmen (Drama Desk nomination). National tour: John Jasper, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Regional: Peter Dummerut, The Visit (Goodman Theatre, world premiere); King Arthur, Camelot (St. Louis MUNY); Guido Contini, Nine (Chicago premiere, Joseph Jefferson Award); Oscar Jaffe, On the Twentieth Century (Goodspeed Opera House, Connecticut Drama Critics Award); Robert, Robert and Elizabeth (Paper Mill Playhouse inaugural production).
 
Terrence McNally (Book) Mr. McNally's most recent work, Deuce, recently played on Broadway. His play Some Men premiered last season at Second Stage Theatre. Mr. McNally also recently wrote the books for the musicals Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life and A Man of No Importance. Recent Broadway credits include the revival of his play The Ritz, the revival of Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, and the book for the musical The Full Monty. He won his fourth Tony Award® for Best Book of a Musical for Ragtime (music and lyrics by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens). McNally won the Tony® in 1996 for his play Master Class in which Zoe Caldwell created the role of Maria Callas; the 1995 Tony®, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Play as well as the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best American Play for Love! Valour! Compassion!; and the 1993 Tony® for his book of the musical Kiss of the Spider Woman (music and lyrics by Kander and Ebb). His other plays include Dedication or The Stuff of Dreams; The Stendhal Syndrome; Crucifixion; Corpus Christi; A Perfect Ganesh; Lips Together, Teeth Apart; The Lisbon Traviata; and It's Only a Play, all of which began at the Manhattan Theatre Club.  Earlier stage works include Bad Habits, The Ritz, Where Has Tommy Flowers Gone?, Things That Go Bump in the Night, Next, and the book for the musical The Rink (music and lyrics by Kander and Ebb). For the Central Park Opera trilogy presented at the New York City Opera in the fall of 1999, he wrote the libretto for The Food of Love, with music by Robert Beaser. The San Francisco Opera presented Dead Man Walking with McNally's libretto and music by Jake Heggie. McNally has written a number of TV scripts, including Andre's Mother for which he won an Emmy Award. He has received two Guggenheim Fellowships, a Rockefeller Grant, a Lucille Lortel Award, and a citation from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He has been a member of the Dramatists Guild since 1970.
 
John Kander (Music) and Fred Ebb (Lyrics) The John Kander and Fred Ebb collaboration of four decades has created what many would consider Broadway standards and contemporary classics. One of their first collaborations became a hit song for Barbra Streisand, "My Coloring Book," earning John and Fred a Grammy nomination. In 1965 the pair worked on their first Broadway show Flora, the Red Menace. Produced by Hal Prince and directed by George Abbott, Flora also introduced a rising new star - Liza Minnelli. Followed by: Cabaret (Tony Award® for music and lyrics), The Happy Time, Zorba, 70 Girls 70, Chicago, The Act, Woman of the Year (Tony Award® for music and lyrics), The Rink, Kiss of the Spider Woman (Tony Award® for music and lyrics) and Steel Pier. Their collaboration also transferred itself to movies and television as they wrote original material for the Academy Awards, "Liza with a Z" and HBO's "Liza Minnelli's Steppin' Out" (both Emmy winners), "Baryshnikov on Broadway," "Goldie and Liza Together," Funny Lady, Lucky Lady, New York, New York, Steppin' Out and Chicago, the movie. In 1985 their song "New York, New York" became the official anthem of New York City. At the time of the unfortunate death of Mr. Ebb, Kander and Ebb had several projects in different stages of completion waiting in the wings, The Visit which had a successful run at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago starring Chita Rivera, All About Us (a musical adaptation of Thornton Wilder's play The Skin of our Teeth) and The Minstrel Show. Currently running on Broadway: Chicago, Curtains. Life goes on.
 
Ann Reinking (Choreographer) Director, co-conceiver, co-choreographer of Tony Award®-winner Fosse (nominated Best Director 1999); choreographer of Chicago (Tony®, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Astaire, NY Drama Critics awards, Best Choreography, 1997). Received Tony® nominations for Dancin' (Featured Performer) and Goodtime Charley (Best Actress) and Theatre World, Clarence Derwent and Outer Critics Circle awards for Over Here (Actress). Films: Movie, Movie; All That Jazz; Micki and Maude; Annie. Choreography: American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey, Missouri State Ballet, Williamstown Theatre Festival, ABC-TV, Ballet Hispanico, Goodman Theatre (Jefferson Award). Directed/choreographed: Tonight at 8:30 (Williamstown).  Ann is artistic director of the Broadway Theatre Project.
 
Frank Galati (Director) received two Tony Awards® in 1990 for his adaptation and direction of The Grapes of Wrath. He was nominated for a Tony Award® in 1998 for directing the musical Ragtime. He is a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and an associate director at Chicago's Goodman Theatre. He has directed for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Opera Theatre, San Francisco Opera, Dallas Opera, the Roundabout Theatre, the Mark Taper Forum, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, La Jolla Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre and the Metropolitan Opera. In 1989 he was nominated for an Academy Award for his screenplay (with Lawrence Kasdan) The Accidental Tourist. Mr. Galati is an emeritus professor of performance studies at Northwestern University. In 2001, he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
 
ABOUT SIGNATURE
Signature is a non-profit professional theater company dedicated to producing contemporary musicals and plays, reinventing classic musicals, and developing new work. To date, Signature has presented over 20 world premiere productions and commissions and is renowned for combining Broadway-quality productions in intimate playing spaces.  In addition to the finest talent from the DC metropolitan area and New York, Signature has been a home to such theater luminaries as Cameron Mackintosh, Terrence McNally, John Kander and Fred Ebb, and, of course, Stephen Sondheim, the company's signature.
 
In 2007, Signature moved into a new two-theater complex in Arlington, Virginia.  Of Signature Theatre's new space, Charles Isherwood of The New York Times wrote "the company must find the sleek, new campus — with a large bar, two lobbies and two theaters — positively swanky,"....stating that "The Signature's flexible Max Theater…recalls the beloved Cottesloe at the National Theater in London."
 
Under Co-Founder and Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer, Signature has been nominated for 216 Helen Hayes Awards for excellence in the professional theater and has been honored with 54 Helen Hayes Awards, including Outstanding Musical in 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2005, and 2006, and Outstanding Play in 1999.
 

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