The first three Broadway previews for THE ADDAMS FAMILY have been cancelled. The production will now begin performances on March 8, 2010 as opposed to the previously announced March 4. Though no formal reason has been given for the change, it is possible the shift is due to the previously announced creative team addition of Broadway director Jerry Zaks. The opening night date of April 8, 2010 has not been changed as a result.
The New York Times confirmed that Tony-winner Jerry Zaks has officially been brought in to take over and supervise THE ADDAMS FAMILY. Zaks will be billed as the show's "Creative Consultant." Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch are still listed as directors and production designers, but it's been made clear that Zaks is the new man in charge.
He tells the Times that he is looking forward to "taking this original musical to the next level." As a result of taking this job, Zaks has bowed out of All About Me, starring Dame Edna and Michael Feinstein.
THE ADDAMS FAMILY will play the Lunt-Fotanne Theatre on Broadway, located at 205 West 46th Street. Regular box office hours are 10 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Ticket prices range from $51.50 to $136.50. Tickets are available at the Lunt-Fontanne box office and online at Tickmaster.com or by calling 212-307-4100.
Based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, THE ADDAMS FAMILY is currently playing its pre-Broadway engagement at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre in Chicago, now through Sunday, January 10, 2010.
THE ADDAMS FAMILY has 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 winner
Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party), direction and design by
Phelim McDermott and
Julian Crouch (Shockheaded Peter, The Metropolitan Opera's Satyagraha) and choreography by
Sergio Trujillo (Next to Normal, Jersey Boys).
Starring two-time Tony Award winners
Nathan Lane and
Bebe Neuwirth as Gomez and Morticia, THE ADDAMS FAMILY features two-time Tony Award nominee
Terrence Mann as Mal Beineke, two-time Tony Award nominee
Carolee Carmello as Alice Beineke, two-time Tony Award nominee
Kevin Chamberlin as Uncle Fester,
Jackie Hoffman as Grandma,
Zachary James as Lurch,
Adam Riegler as Pugsley,
Wesley Taylor as Lucas Beineke and
Krysta Rodriguez as Wednesday.
THE ADDAMS FAMILY features lighting design by two-time Tony Award winner
Natasha Katz (The Coast of Utopia, Aida), sound design by
Acme Sound Partners (Tony nomination for In the Heights) and puppetry by acclaimed Obie Award-winning puppeteer
Basil Twist (Arias with a Twist).
The production also features music direction by
Mary-Mitchell Campbell (the revivals of Sweeney Todd and Company), orchestrations by
Larry Hochman (Monty Python's Spamalot), dance arrangements by
August Eriksmoen (Memphis), hair design by
Tom Watson (Wicked), make-up design by
Angelina Avallone (The Little Mermaid), special effects design by
Greg Meeh (Monty Python's Spamalot) and fight direction by
Rick Sordelet (The Lion King).
THE ADDAMS FAMILY is produced by
Stuart Oken,
Roy Furman,
Michael Leavitt, Five Cent Productions,
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 Company/Clarence LLC and
Adam Zotovich/Tribe Theatricals, by Special Arrangement with
Elephant Eye Theatrical.
In this original story, the famously macabre Addams Family is put to the test when outsiders come to dinner, hurling Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, Fester, Grandma and Lurch headlong into a night that will change the family forever.
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.
For more information, visit
www.theaddamsfamilymusical.com.
