Bebe Neuwirth Plays Last ADDAMS FAMILY Performance Today; Shields to Begin Tuesday

As previously announced, stage and screen star Brooke Shields will join THE ADDAMS FAMILY in the role of Morticia beginning Tuesday, June 28 at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street). Two-time Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth will play her final performance in the role today. Ms. Shields will play opposite Roger Rees, who stars as Gomez.

"I am delighted to be joining THE ADDAMS FAMILY this summer," said Shields. "When the producers asked me to come see the show a few months ago, I found it to be wonderfully entertaining, funny, clever and even touching, and I knew immediately that I wanted to be the next Morticia, following the amazing Bebe Neuwirth. I can't wait to join Roger and the wonderful cast."

In the past decade, Brooke Shields has won rave reviews and has established herself as an acclaimed Broadway musical leading lady with her performances as Ruth in Wonderful Town, Roxie Hart in Chicago and Sally Bowles in Cabaret. Her Broadway debut came in 1994 as Rizzo in Grease, for which she won a Theatre World Award. This past summer she starred with Raul Esparza in Alan Menken's Leap Of Faith at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. She is currently starring in the new play Girls Talk at the Lee Strasberg Theater, also in L.A. She was recently seen in her own show "In My Life" at Feinstein's at the Loews Regency, sharing stories from her incredible journey in show business in an evening that included songs such as "100 Easy Ways to Lose a Man" and "Swing" (both from Wonderful Town), "Me and My Baby" (from Chicago), "Queen Bee" (from the Barbra Streisand version of A Star Is Born), and a rendition of "Maybe This Time" (from Cabaret).

Shields has received numerous awards and accolades for her extensive repertoire of talents. She was nominated twice for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy, and was also nominated for The American Comedy Awards' Funniest Female Performer in a Television Series Leading Role for her hit comedy show, "Suddenly Susan." She is the recipient of five People's Choice Awards.

Based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, THE ADDAMS FAMILY features a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa. The production is directed and designed (sets and costumes) by Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch, with creative consultation by Jerry Zaks and choreography by Sergio Trujillo. Lighting design is by Natasha Katz, sound design is by ACME Sound Partners and puppetry is by Basil Twist.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY, now in its second smash year on Broadway, stars Tony Award winner Roger Rees as Gomez; two-time Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia, Brad Oscar as Fester, Rachel Potter as Wednesday, Jackie Hoffman as Grandma, Zachary James as Lurch, Heidi Blickenstaff as Alice Beineke, Adam Grupper as Mal Beineke and Jesse Swenson as Lucas Beineke.

A national tour of THE ADDAMS FAMILY will begin in September of this year at the Mahalia Jackson Theatre for the Performing Arts in New Orleans. Plans for several international productions are currently underway.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY is produced on Broadway by Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt, Five Cent Prods., Stephen Schuler, Decca Theatricals, Scott M. Delman, Stuart Ditsky, Terry Allen Kramer, Stephanie P. McClelland, James L. Nederlander, Eva Price, JAM Theatricals/Mary Lu Roffe, Pittsburgh CLO/Gutterman-Swinsky, Vivek Tiwary/Gary Kaplan, The Weinstein Co./Clarence, LLC and Adam Zotovich/Tribe Theatricals, by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical.

For more information on THE ADDAMS FAMILY, visit www.theaddamsfamilymusical.com.