Lane and Neuwirth Keep It In The 'Family' for ADDAMS Workshop

Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth are keeping warm and busy as they participate in a closed reading of the Andrew Lippa penned musical THE ADDAMS FAMILY here in New York.

Somewhere in Midtown, oh not too far away from, well...sorry can't tell, the starry couple are showing each other much twisted love as they lead a collected cast of theatre heavyweights in the latest workshop for the Chicago bound musical based on Charles Addams' beloved (and feared) characters.

The workshop will conclude with an industry only performance on January 27th. Those who've heard bits of the score describe it as comic, romantic and 100% "right" for the piece.

Sources close to the workshop production revealed, off the record at this time, that in addition to Neuwirth and Lane, Terrence Mann, Marylouise Burke, Jan Maxwell, Zachary James and Kevin Chamberlin are also part of the workshop cast. Chamberlin has essayed the part of 'Uncle Fester' in several past readings and is expected to be set for the role.

No actors have been officially cast at this juncture in the actual production of the show, which is planned for the 2009-10 Broadway season following the upcoming Ford Center out-of-town tryout in Chicago this fall.

Broadway In Chicago will host the world premiere of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a new musical based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, beginning performances Friday, November 13, 2009 at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph St., Chicago). 

Produced by Elephant Eye Theatrical (Stuart Oken, Michael Leavitt and Five Cent Productions) and Roy Furman, THE ADDAMS FAMILY will play a limited engagement in Chicago through January 10, 2010 prior to opening on Broadway in the spring of that year. 

THE ADDAMS FAMILY will feature a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice (librettists of the 2006 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Jersey Boys), music and lyrics by Drama Desk Award-winning composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party), direction and design by Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch (Shockheaded Peter, the Metropolitan Opera's recent acclaimed production of Philip Glass's Satyagraha), choreography by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys), lighting by Tony Award winner Natasha Katz (The Coast of Utopia, Aida) and musical direction by Mary-Mitchell Campbell (Company).

In a prolific career spanning six decades, Charles Addams created several thousand cartoons, sketches and drawings, many of which were famously 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 of Gomez, Morticia, Fester, Wednesday, Pugsley, Grandmama, Lurch and Thing have entertained millions worldwide and served as the inspiration for multiple television series and motion pictures.

"It's an extraordinary privilege as well as a daunting responsibility being entrusted with Charles Addams' most beloved creations, but I'm confident this outstanding creative team is re-imagining the work in a way that would have made Charlie proud," said producer Stuart Oken of Elephant Eye Theatrical.

Tickets are now available to groups of 20 or more by calling (312) 977-1710. THE ADDAMS FAMILY will be a part of the Broadway In Chicago Season Series. Season subscription packages will go on sale to new subscribers beginning November 21, 2008. The individual ticket pricing and on-sale date will be announced at a later date.

For more information on THE ADDAMS FAMILY visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com