Exclusive! Roger Rees, Rick Holmes & More Will Join Chita Rivera in Kander & Ebb's The Visit on Broadway

As revealed by these exclusive photos from Broadway.com photographer Bruce Glikas, Tony winner Roger Rees, Rick Holmes, Matthew Deming, Tom Nelis and Michelle Veintimilla will join the previously reported Chita Rivera in John Kander and Fred Ebb’s The Visit on the Great White Way. All the actors are set to reprise their roles from the John Doyle-helmed production of the musical at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts last summer. Broadway.com has learned that The Visit will likely open at the Lyceum Theatre once Disgraced closes there this spring; a show spokesperson had no official comment.

Rees won the Tony for his performance in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. His other Broadway credits include The Winslow Boy, The Addams Family, Uncle Vanya, The Rehearsal and Indiscretions. Holmes has most recently appeared on the Great White Way in Peter and the Starcatcher, The Pillowman and Spamalot. Deming made his Broadway debut in Chicago, while Nelis was last seen on the Great White Way in Enron. This will mark Veintimilla’s first appearance on the Main Stem.

The Visit is based on the classic Friedrich Dürrenmatt play (adapted by Maurice Valency) and features a book by Terrence McNally, with music by Kander and lyrics by Ebb. Claire Zachanassian is an often-widowed millionairess who pays a visit to her hardship-stricken birthplace. The locals hope she’ll bring them a new lease on life, but little do they know her offer to revitalize the town comes at a dreadful price.

The musical premiered in 2001 at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago and later played The Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia. Rivera starred in both productions as Claire, a role originally written for Angela Lansbury, who withdrew from the project in its early stages after her husband fell ill.

Further members of the company will be announced later. The cast at WTF also included Judy Kuhn (who is already booked for Fun Home on Broadway this season), David Garrison, Jason Danieley, Diana DiMarzio, Melanie Field, Christopher Newcomer, Aaron Ramey and Timothy Shew.