THE ADDAMS FAMILY Makes Philly Premiere at Academy of Music, Now thru 3/24

THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a new musical based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, will make its Philadelphia premiere tonight, March 19 - 24 at the Academy of Music as part of the Broadway Season, presented by The KimMel Center and The Shubert Organization. The press opening is tonight, March 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets ranging in price from $20 to $100 are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, online at kimmelcenter.org/broadway, at the KimMel Center box office, Broad & Spruce Sts. (open daily 10 am to 6 pm) or at the Academy of Music box office, Broad & Locust Sts. (open during performances only). Groups of 10 or more will receive discounts for select performances by calling 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947. Performances include: Tuesday - Thursday evening at 7:30 pm; Friday & Saturday evening at 8 p.m.; Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m.; matinees Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.

Jesse Sharp and KeLeen Snowgren will star as Gomez and Morticia in a cast that also includes Shaun Rice as Uncle Fester, Amanda Bruton as Grandma, Jennifer Fogarty as Wednesday, Sam Primack and Jeremy Todd Shinder as Pugsley, Dan Olson as Lurch, Mark Poppleton as Mal Beineke, Blair Anderson as Alice Beineke and Bryan Welnicki as Lucas Beineke.

Portraying the ancestors are James Michael Avance, Chloe O. Davis, Jake Delaney, Lexie Dorsett, Aaron Fried, Elizabeth Hake, Julia Lancione, Katie Mebane, Galloway Stevens and Julio Catano Yee.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY features an original story and it's every father's nightmare. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family. A man her parents have never met. And if that weren't upsetting enough, she confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he's never done before - keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday's "normal" boyfriend and his parents.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY features a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa. The production is directed by Jerry Zaks with choreography by Sergio Trujillo. Production design (sets and costumes) by Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch with set adaptations by James Kronzer. The production features lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Craig Cassidy and puppetry by Basil Twist.

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, which began performances in March 2010 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre and ran through December 2011, immediately became one of Broadway's biggest hits. Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune described the production as "classic, full-tilt, fast paced, old-fashioned musical comedy!" and John Simon of Bloomberg News called it "uproarious! A glitzy-gloomy musical entirely worthy of the macabre drawings by Charles Addams."

THE ADDAMS FAMILY tour for North America is produced by Phoenix Entertainment, Stephen B. Kane and Michael McFadden, by special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide. International productions have been announced for Brazil (March, 2012) and Australia (March, 2013) with others to be announced shortly.

For more information, visit www.tafontour.com.

The 2012-2013 Broadway Season is presented by The KimMel Center and The Shubert Organization with productions at the Academy of Music, Forrest Theatre and Merriam Theater. Season ticket packages are still available by calling 215-893-1955 or online at kimmelcenter.org/broadway1213.

In addition to THE ADDAMS FAMILY, the 2012-13 Broadway Season includes: PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT (Feb. 26 - March 3) and SISTER ACT (April 2 - 7), at the Academy of Music. Additional productions include: BLUE MAN GROUP (March 5 - 10) and ROCK OF AGES (June 14 - 16) at the Merriam Theater; and the return of WICKED (June 26 - Aug. 4) for an extended summer engagement at the Academy of Music.

KIMMel CENTER, INC., a charitable, not-for-profit organization, owns, manages, supports and maintains The KimMel Center for the Performing Arts, which includes Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, Innovation Studio and the Merck Arts Education Center. KimMel Center, Inc. also manages the Academy of Music, owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, and the University of the Arts Merriam Theater. Our mission is to operate a world class performing arts center that engages and serves a broad audience which includes providing arts in education, community outreach and a rich diversity of programming. The 2012/2013 season is presented by TD Bank. For additional information, visit kimmelcenter.org.

The Shubert Organization owns and operates 21 theatres in New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, DC and continues its involvement in the presentation of distinguished theatrical productions. Under the leadership of Philip J. Smith, Chairman and Robert E. Wankel, President, the firm continues its tradition of producing distinguished theatrical attractions. These include Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway, Sister Act, That Championship Season, Passing Strange, Equus (w/Daniel Radcliffe), A Steady Rain, God of Carnage, Cats, Sunday in the Park with George, Dreamgirls, Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Lettice & Lovage, Passion, the original production of Amadeus and many others. The Shubert Organization is dedicated to the revitalization of the American theatre. Its activities include the restoration and modernization of its theatres and participation in civic and community affairs. Shubert Ticketing provides superior box office, call center and marketing services, as well as online products for live entertainment venues across the country.

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