Lippa's ADDAMS FAMILY Will Have Fall 2009 Chicago Tryout

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 12:26am

"What rhymes with "Morticia"? Chicago audiences will find out starting in November 2009, when Broadway in Chicago hosts the world premiere of the new Broadway-aimed musical, The Addams Family, based on the macabre characters created by cartoonist Charles Addams.

The musical with book by Tony Award nominees Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice (Jersey Boys), and music and lyrics by Drama Desk Award winner Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party) will begin tryout performances Nov. 13, 2009, at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre in 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 Jan. 10, 2010, prior to opening on Broadway in spring 2010.

No casting has been announced, but Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth played Gomez and Morticia, respectively, in a developmental presentation of the material earlier this year, and are attached to a January 2009 workshop of it..."

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/122845.html

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 12:27am

YES! I hope Bebe stays with it.

[Paul W. Thompson]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 12:30am

Here is BWW's posting of the complete press release, from Chicago.BroadwayWorld.com

https://chicago.broadwayworld.com/article/Broadway_in_Chicago_to_Present_World_Premiere_of_THE_ADDAMS_FAMILY_20081030

[xxdrewboy85xx]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 12:30am

So excited for this to premier in Chicago! I sure do hope bebe stays with it- though im sure she will!

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 12:56am

Oh boy am I excited for this. As it is, the reading cast had me super psyched, but for some reason I must have missed first time around that Lippa was involved (or perhaps he just joined the project). Regardless, this is going to be magic, especially if it can somehow keep Bebe and Nathan (I'd also love to see why they had Annaleigh Ashford read and what she could bring to the role of Wednesday).

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 1:06am

mormonophobic, Ashford won't be involved in the commercial production.

They want to keep most of the cast from the next workshop and, because Ashford was unavailable due to her commitments with the Chicago production of WICKED, the role of Wednesday has been re-cast.

In terms of the principles who participated previously, Ashford, Matthew Gumley, Mary Birdsong, Michael Arden, and Jeff McCarthy will not be back.

Nathan Lane, Bebe Neuwirth, Kevin Chamberlin, and Marylouise Burke, on the other hand, will reprise their roles for the January workshop (and, likely, beyond.)

Updated On: 10/30/08 at 01:06 AM

[Sondheim_Geek]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 1:21am

Mary-Mitchell Campbell!

I just love how she is becoming one of the premiere music directors on Broadway right now. She is just so fantastic.

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 1:50am

somethingwicked, are you involved with the workshop/production?

[B3TA07]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 2:27am

My friend has an audition for Wednesday!

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 2:33am

Did anyone see the reading that took place in August?

[PRFRMR20]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 2:56am

I know someone who was called back for Lucas, the Michael Arden role. Maybe they'll get cast together? :)

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 3:03am

Just hand the role to Madeleine Martin. Though I guess they don't want to give the role to someone that has to take a leave of absence to do a TV show (hopefully the insanely disastrous CALIFORNICATION gets canceled soon though).

[B3TA07]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 3:17am

Madeleine Martin does look perfect for the part; I've only seen her in August:OC though; does she sing? My friend told me bout the song Wednesday has and it sounded pretty cool.


Edit: Maybe PRFRMR20, maybe! Haha.

Updated On: 10/30/08 at 03:17 AM

[mormonophobic]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 3:21am

Thank you for the correction, somethingwicked. I had no idea. Kind of sad about Arden and Ashford, but still interested to see where they go with this. It is just so ripe with potential for something brilliant.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 3:25am

Truth be told, from the little I know about The Addams Family, Ashford seemed like a strange choice to begin with. And not the "kinda weird but in a good way cause it might actually work awesomely" kind of way...

[emo_geek]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 3:41am

Broadway aimed? Not prebroadway?

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 10:10am

Thank you, somethingwicked

I wish this (and ultimately Nathn, Bebe and Lippa) nothing but the best!!!

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 10:21am

So excited for this!

I will be graduating in May, so I'll have more freedom to travel by then - hopefully I can make it to Chicago next year!

Can't wait to see Lauren in Guys & Dolls as well!

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 10:43am

BRING IN PAUL VOGT TO PLAY UNCLE FESTER AND THIS THING WILL TRULY ROCK!!!

[Fosse76]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 11:25am

"Broadway aimed? Not prebroadway?"

The producer and rights-holder is a Chicago-based theater company, not a Broadway producer. It is composed of a consortium of other theater entities designed to develop and produce shows for Broadway. The Chicago engagement is the equivalent of a production at the Steppenwolf or Goodman.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 11:48am

Maybe a spring 2010 Broadway debut??

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 12:23pm

I will for sure be checking this out in Chicago! So excited for it!

[Brick]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 12:45pm

If Lane and Neuwirth stay with it, this sounds brilliant! If not, then it doesn't.

[Patash]

Posted: 10/31/08 at 10:54pm

"My friend has an audition for Wednesday!"

Nice that her audition is so soon, but what role is she auditioning for?


(Sorry, couldn't resist)

[Tkt2Ride]

Posted: 11/1/08 at 7:20am

I'm excited about this production too! I have a friend in Chicago so this might work out fine.