Neuwirth (Sweet Charity, Chicago, Damn Yankees) created the role opposite Nathan Lane as Gomez in a 2009 Chicago tryout leading to the March 8, 2010, first preview on Broadway. Lane was later succeeded by Roger Rees, who now plays the patriarch Gomez. Neuwirth and Tony winner Rees (The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby) are old pals from their days together on TV's "Cheers," and have collaborated on stage works.
photo by Joan Marcus |
The principal cast of The Addams Family also includes Brad Oscar as Uncle Fester, Jackie Hoffman as Grandma, Rachel Potter as Wednesday, Adam Reigler as Pugsley, Zachary James as Lurch, Adam Grupper as Mal Beineke, Heidi Blickenstaff as Alice Beineke and Jesse Swenson as Lucas Beineke.
Based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by cartoonist Charles Addams, The Addams Family features a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa. The production is directed and designed (sets and costumes) by Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch, with creative consultation by Jerry Zaks and choreography by Sergio Trujillo. Lighting design is by Natasha Katz, sound design is by Acme Sound Partners and puppetry is by Basil Twist. A national tour will begin in September at the Mahalia Jackson Theatre for the Performing Arts in New Orleans. Plans for several international productions are currently underway.
The Addams Family is produced on Broadway by Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt, Five Cent Prods., 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 Co./Clarence, LLC and Adam Zotovich/Tribe Theatricals, by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical.
For more information visit www.theaddamsfamilymusical.com.