The Addams Family Set Up House On Broadway

The Addams Family, a new musical based on the famed cartoons by Charles Addams, starts performances at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater on Broadway today. The show had a try-out in Chicago in late 2009 and brought in director Jerry Zaks to sharpen up the production. Is The Addams Family now ready to face Broadway? Audiences will decide tonight, and critics will decide on April 8, when the creepy and kooky musical has its official Broadway opening. The Addams Family stars Nathan Lane (The Producers) and Bebe Neuwirth (Chicago) as Gomez and Morticia Addams, Kevin Chamberlin as Uncle Fester, and Jackie Hoffman as Grandma, all members of a ghoulish but loving family of misfits who live in a haunted mansion. The musical has a book by Jersey Boys writers Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman and an original score by Andrew Lippa (Off-Broadway's The Wild Party).

Nathan Lane To Head Cast of Broadway Bound Addams Family Musical

The official casting announcement for the new Broadway musical version of The Addams Family has finally come out. As expected, Nathan Lane (currently on Broadway in Waiting For Godot) and Bebe Neuwirth (Broadway's Chicago, TV's Frasier) will star as Gomez and Morticia Addams. Kevin Chamberlain (Seussical) will play Uncle Fester, Jackie Hoffman (Xanadu, Hairspray) is Grandmama, and Tony Award nominees and Broadway regulars Terrence Mann and Carolee Carmello will play supporting roles. Based on the famous cartoons by Charles Addams, The Addams Family musical is written by Jersey Boys librettists Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman, and composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa. The show is directed and designed by Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch, the men behind the macabre musical Shockheaded Peter. The Addams Family will have its world premiere at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theatre in Chicago this November before opening on Broadway in March 2010.

Broadway Baby Bebe Neuwirth Celebrates July 4

Broadway star Bebe Neuwirth (Chicago) will be part of the entertainment line-up for PBS's annual Independence Day celebration, "A Capitol Fourth". Also participating in the July 4 festivities, which will air at 8pm live from Washington D.C., are Little Richard, American Idol finalist Elliott Yamin, and Yolanda Adams. Hosting the event is Tony Danza, who closed out the Broadway production of The Producers and will soon be taking over as Max in the Las Vegas version.