The Visit, Starring Chita Rivera, Sets Broadway Dates and Theater

The Visit, one of the final musicals of the legendary songwriting pair John Kander and Fred Ebb, will officially open on Broadway this spring at the Lyceum Theatre. Directed by John Doyle, the production, which originated in 2014 at Williamstown Theatre Festival, begins previews March 26 and will open April 23.

Two-time Tony Award winner Chita Rivera leads the cast of the Broadway transfer, which will also feature her fellow Williamstown castmate Roger Rees. The musical features a book by Terrence McNally and choreography by Graciela Daniele.

The Visit tells the story of Claire Zachanassian (Rivera), the oft-widowed richest woman in the world as she returns to the hardship-stricken town of her birth, where the locals pray that her wealth will bring them a new lease on life. But the carefully plotted renewal she offers carries a dreadful price. It is based on the 1956 play of the same title by Friedrich Dürrenmatt.

The Visit has been aiming for Broadway since 2000. Originally scheduled for a Broadway opening in 2001 with Angela Lansbury as the star, the production was canceled when Lansbury withdrew. A subsequent 2001 production at Chicago's Goodman Theatre, starring Rivera, aimed for Broadway but was delayed after September 11. Financing issues scuttled a 2003 production off-Broadway at the Public Theater. A 2008 staging took place at Signature Theatre in Washington, D.C, and a Vineyard Theatre benefit concert of the musical occurred in 2011. The 2014 Williamstown production ran from July 31-August 17.

Click here to read TheaterMania's interview with Chita Rivera.