John Waters, Chloe Dallimore and More Set for THE ADDAMS FAMILY Australian Premiere, March 2013

Sandra Chipchase, CEO, Destination NSW today introduced to the media the seven actors who will play the lovable and bizarre characters who make up the deliriously delightful Addams Family. The Addams Family will open at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney in March 2013. Tickets on sale on Monday 27 August through Ticketmaster.

After a yearlong search and auditions across Australia the Producers are excited to announce that the members of The Addams Family are: John Waters as Gomez Addams, Chloe Dallimore as Morticia Addams, Russell Dykstra as Fester Addams, Teagan Wouters as Wednesday Addams, Ben Hudson as Lurch, Meredith O'Reilly as Grandma Addams and Liam Faulkner-Dimond as Pugsley Addams.

The Hon. George Souris, NSW Minister for Tourism, Major Events and the Arts said "I would like to congratulate producer Rodney Rigby on the announcement of the cast of the much loved Addams Family. With such a stellar Australian cast playing the weird and wonderful Addams Family characters and a storyline that is sure to entertain audiences of all ages, the Australian premiere of The Addams Family is set to be a crowd pleaser here in Sydney just as it was during its impressive Broadway run."

"Securing the Australian premiere of The Addams Family demonstrates how determined the NSW Government is to ensure that Sydney reclaims its status as the number one city for first run musicals in Australia. With Sydney the preferred location to open this world-class musical in Australia, this is a clear vote of confidence by the producers in Sydney as a major events destination," said Minister Souris.

Jerry Zaks, who will direct The Addams Family, is acclaimed on Broadway for his work in the theatre. He has received four Tony Awards, four Drama Desks, and two Outer Critics Circle Awards, and he has directed more than 30 productions in New York. Of the Australian cast for The Addams Family he said "We are thrilled and blessed to have such an amazing cast for the Australian premiere of The Addams Family. Led by our Gomez and Mortica, John and Chloe, this cast is going to thrill and delight. I can't wait to get down there and start working with all of them."

Rodney Rigby, Producer said "We are beyond thrilled to have found this wonderful company of actors for this ridiculously funny Broadway Musical."

The Addams Family features an original story. It's every parent's nightmare. Your little girl has suddenly become a young woman, and what's worse, has fallen deliriously in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family. Yes, Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has a "normal" boyfriend, and for parents Gomez and Morticia, it's a shocking development that turns the Addams house upside down when they are forced to host a dinner for the young man and his parents. The production features all the favourite characters – Uncle Fester, Grandma, Pugsley, Lurch, and the Beineke Family of Mal, Alice and Lucas.

In a prolific career spanning six decades, Charles Addams created several thousand cartoons, sketches and drawings, many of which were published in The New Yorker. But it was his creation of characters that came to be known as The Addams Family that brought Addams his greatest acclaim. With a unique style that combined the twisted, macabre and just plain weird with charm, wit and enchantment, Addams' drawings have entertained millions worldwide and served as the inspiration for multiple television series and motion pictures.

The Addams Family features a book by Jersey Boys co-writers Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa. The production is directed in Australia by Broadway legend Jerry Zaks and choreography by Sergio Trujillo.

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