Chita Rivera and John Cullum to Headline Actors Fund Performance of Kander and Ebb's The Visit

Tony winners Chita Rivera and John Cullum will star in a one-night-only Actors Fund benefit performance of John Kander and Fred Ebb's The Visit on November 30 at the Ambassador Theatre. The event will be directed by Carl Andress and choreographed by Ann Reinking.

The Visit is based on the classic Friedrich Durrenmatt play (adapted by Maurice Valency) and features a book by Terrence McNally, with music by Kander and lyrics by Ebb. Claire Zachanassian (Rivera) was driven from her hometown in disgrace when she was 17, having been betrayed by her lover Anton Schell (Cullum). 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.

Rivera earned Tony Awards for The Rink and Kiss of the Spider Woman. She received nominations for Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life, Nine, Jerry's Girls, Merlin, Bring Back Birdie, Chicago and Bye Bye Birdie. Cullum won Tony Awards for Shenandoah and On the Twentieth Century. He has earned nominations for On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Urinetown and 110 in the Shade. His other Broadway credits include The Scottsboro Boys, August: Osage County, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Show Boat, Aspects of Love, Private Lives,. Cymbeline and Man of La Mancha.

The Visit had its world premiere at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre and was subsequently produced at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA. This benefit performance is produced in coordination with the Actors Fund and the Vineyard Theatre.