Bebe Neuwirth Heading Back To Chicago (Not What You Think)
Bebe Neuwirth Heading Back To Chicago (Not What You Think)Incredible as it may seem, according to Playbill, Chicago veteran Bebe Neuwirth is heading to the Windy City for her first starring role in an original-run of a Broadway-bound show. She'll be Morticia to Nathan Lane's Gomez in the stage musical version of The Addams Family, inspired by late cartoonist Charles Addams.
The fantasy-league dream casting doesn't stop with those two principals. Neuwirth and Lane will be joined by Kevin Chamberlin as Uncle Fester and Jackie Hoffman as Grandmama. The cast also includes Terrence Mann, Carolee Carmello, Zachary James, Adam Riegler, Wesley Taylor and Krysta Rodriguez.
Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice of Jersey Boys fame are providing the book, while Andrew Lippa is offering the score for the tuner that will enjoy its world premiere at Chicago's Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theatre, which had long been home to the city's sitdown production of Wicked.
Given that this Addams Family creation is based more on Addams' source material than the television series or films of the same name, I'm pretty stoked given the spot-on casting choices. The fact that Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch of the seriously macabre Shockheaded Peter fame are offering direction may make this altogether ooky, if not a scream.
Whether those decisions make it a snap in next year's Tony derby is yet to be seen.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Andrew Lippa, Bebe Neuwirth, Broadway, Cartoon, Charles Addams, First Word On New Show, Julian Crouch, Marshall Brickman, Musical, Nathan Lane, Phelim McDermott, Rick Elice, The Addams Family
posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Monday, May 11, 2009
4 Comments:
This sounds interesting for sure. I'd love to see Jackie Hoffman in something else (Xanadu was fun but not as much as listening to her Live from Joe's Pub cd). The rest of the casting sounds inspired.
It does sound like a terrific cast, although I only know most of these actors by reputation. And I've never heard of Shockheaded Peter. But I did see Carolee Carmello as Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia! and she was great.
Between this, Spider-Man and hopefully Catch Me if You Can, there'll be lots to look forward to next spring!
and Krysta Rodriguez! If I'm looking (way) ahead, if Addams Family gets nominated for Best Musical, she would have been in 3 shows out of 4 years to be in that category.
I love Bebe Neuwith to begin with and add in some of my favorites Nathan Lane, Kevin Chamberlin, Jackie Hoffman ... and especially Terrence Mann - I'll have to break out of my normal area and head a bit further south to see it on B'way.
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