The Addams Family Coming to Broadway: Neuwirth to Star

[FrontRowCenter2]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 6:06am

According to Riedel in today's Post, The Addams Family will be coming to broadway for the 2009-2010 season. Bebe Neuwirth and possibly Nathan Lane to star:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/06252008/entertainment/theater/evening_up_addams_117140.htm

Great line from his Slings and Arrows section:

"I love it when two drama critics are at each other's throats. It's like watching a ladies wrestling match."

Updated On: 6/25/08 at 06:06 AM

[emo_geek]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 6:43am

Thought nathan lane was doing catch me if you can...

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 6:50am

Smaxie mentioned Neuwirth when the news first came out, and I've championed that choice from the beginning. It's simply perfect casting.
And way to go Riedel, it's Andrew Lippa, not Adam Lippa.
I really dislike the idea of Lane as Gomez, I always pictured Gomez as a sexy elegant if eccentric, spooky Latin lover, probably because of Raul Julia. Lane will be funny but I was hoping for sexy, elegant and Latin lover-look. Oh well.
Wish Riedel had leaked info about the rest of the cast.

[FrontRowCenter2]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 6:57am

According to Riedel:

Lane had been set to appear in "Catch Me If You Can," a new musical by his friends Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman ("Hairspray"), but the offer to play Gomez, says a source, "is probably too good to pass up."

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 7:31am

I think i just peed myself a little!

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 7:35am

I can see Bebe as Morticia, but Nathan Lane as Gomez? Please no!!!!

Just based on looks alone, Paulo Szot is a better match...I'd even take Raul Esparza....but Nathan Lane?

Maybe as Uncle Fester.

[once a month]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 7:45am

Now this property is one that I'm terribly excited about!

[SirNotAppearing]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 7:51am

I would think CATCH ME is a better opportunity, but that's just me.

I don't like him one bit as Gomez.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 7:54am

Yeah, exactly, Lane as Uncle Fester...great casting.
Lane as Gomez, eh, not so much.
For some reason I also think CATCH ME IF YOU CAN must be a higher-profile production, wonder why Riedel says the chance of playing Gomez is too good to pass, perhaps it's just a really well-written role and the material is top-notch stuff.

[tazber]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 7:54am

Finally! A show I'm excited about. And a new Lippa score is always welcome news.

color me psyched.

And regardless of whether they are right got Gomez and Moticia, the idea of Lane and Bebe together makes all moist in my nether regions!

I can not wait to see who they get to play Wednesday.

[ahmelie]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 8:12am

God, I love Bebe Neuwirth. I'll see this just for her.

[SirNotAppearing]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 8:16am

A little off-topic, but does it piss anyone else off that Riedel uses bold text every time he drops a name?

[parislover87]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 8:17am

whatever happened to Murney being in this show? Im kinda bummed....

[Weez]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 8:27am

I don't think it's a Riedel decision. Many news reporting sources put random things in bold, particularly the lower class of tabloids here in the UK. Sample news story:

"Vandals threw a brick off a bridge where it hit a van's window and caused it to shatter".

I hope and pray the original reporter just wrote the story and the bolding came later.

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 8:27am

Reidel comparing Lane to Lou Costello is really telling...because it's true!

And we don't need Lou Costello playing Gomez.

The role needs someone suave, sophisticated and just a little bit smarmy--Lane only fits the latter.

[FrontRowCenter2]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 8:32am

Bebe's a perfect choice, however, Lane I believe to be totally miscast. Could be that I, like most who have posted, have that suave, sexy, latin image of Gomez. Lane could surprise us with a completely different take on the character, but right now I think he would make a much better Fester.

Posted: 6/25/08 at 8:38am

I can't wait. Will they be using the script from the movies ar starting from scratch?

[JBSinger]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 8:41am

Have any of you seen the TV show of the Addams Family? Nathan Lane would be much more appropriate if THAT is the template for the musical (not the movie casting). I agree with you if they are trying to match the movie casting, Lane is wrong (try Antonio Banderas) for the part. But if they are going for more of the TV show feel (and perhaps the original comics), Lane is a good match.
Too bad he can't do CATCH ME IF YOU CAN though. Perhaps that show is still a little ways off and Lane doesn't get to be as funny in it. He'll probably get to cut loose in Addams Family.

[FrontRowCenter2]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 8:42am

All I know is that I'm extremely excited about this show and Bebe!

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 8:51am

In terms of the TV version, I look at Nathan and see Jackie Coogan, not John Astin.

I simply do not see Lane as a romantic lead and even if this turns out to be the campiest thing since sliced bread, there should still be something resembling romantic chemistry or tension between the two leads.

I will admit to being biased. While he's undeniably very talented, I can only take very small doses of Nathan Lane. He's too broad and hammy for me.
Updated On: 6/25/08 at 08:51 AM

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 9:27am

How about Danny Burstein as Gomez?

[FrontRowCenter2]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 9:33am

Now that would be perfect!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 9:33am

And I second the genius of the Neuwirth casting. As long as Celia Keenan-Bolger isn't Wednesday and Shuler Hensley isn't Lurch or Fester, I'm happy.

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 9:40am

Danny Burstein definitely works.

LOL on Shuler Hensley as Lurch....that, unfortunately, is just too predictable.

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Posted: 6/25/08 at 9:40am

Yes! This should be good!