The Visit Sneak Peek!

Tony winners Chita Rivera & John Cullum

On Monday morning, a few of us were fortunate enough to get a first look at rehearsals for the highly-anticipated one-night-only production of The Visit, a benefit performance for The Actors Fund and Vineyard Theatre at the Ambassador Theatre on November 30, 2011. The cast and creative team took time out from their jam-packed rehearsal schedule to perform three numbers from the show, which featured Tony winners Chita Rivera and John Cullum, as well as appearances by some the incredible talent behind the production: book writer Terrence McNally, composer John Kander, choreographer Ann Reinking, and concert director Carl Andress (lyricist Fred Ebb was, of course, there in spirit).

We shot a little video of the event, so be sure to check out the sneak peek below, and if you’d like to purchase tickets, head on over to The Actors Fund’s website. It’s also not too late to participate in our Facebook ticket giveaway, which is running until November 28, 2011. And don’t miss the event’s coverage in the Broadway press, including Playbill and Broadway World (photos and video).

Many thanks to the incredibly talented cast, crew and musicians, all of whom are donating their time for the benefit. In addition to Ms. Rivera and Mr. Cullum, The Visit features Lina Balgord, D.B. Bonds, Matthew Deming, Alan H. Green, James Harms, Michael Hayward-Jones, Joy Hermalym, Howard Kaye, Doug Kreeger, Mary Ann Lamb, Jerry Lanning, Ryan Lowe, Brianne Moore, Karen Murphy, Brian O’Brien, Kevin Reed, Hal Robinson, Dana Steingold, Rebegga Strimaitis, Jeremy Webb, and Tony Nominee Mark Jacoby. Special thanks, as well, to Jon Kalbfleich (musical director) and David Loud (musical supervisor and vocal/dance arranger).

John Kander, Terrence McNally, Chita Rivera, John Cullum, Ann Reinking and Carl Andress.

–Karissa Krenz