- Opening date
- September 21, 2001
- Comments
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A musical with a book by Terrence McNally, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and music by John Kander. Based on Friedrich Dürrenmatt's 1956 satirical play about greed and revenge Der Besuch der alten Dame, it focuses on one of the world's wealthiest women, Claire Zachanassian, who returns to her financially depressed hometown and offers its residents a new lease on life in exchange for the murder of Anton Schell, the man who abandoned her years ago.
The musical was originally developed as a vehicle for Angela Lansbury. It was scheduled for a Broadway opening on March 2001. However, in July the previous year, Lansbury withdrew due to the illness and subsequent death of her husband. Instead, the show opened with Chita Rivera signed on as Lansbury's replacement at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. After ten days of previews, the show opened on October 1, 2001.