All Entries in the "Adam Riegler" Category
The Addams Family Broadway Takes Final Bow
The Addams Family played its final Broadway performance on Sunday, December 31 after 725 performances and 34 previews.
Since beginning previews on March 8 2009, The Addams Family has been seen by more than 748,000 people. Prior to Broadway, The Addams Family played an 8 week engagement at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago, where it grossed more than $12 million, making it the most successful Broadway tryout in Chicago’s history.
The national tour of The Addams Family launched on September 15 at the Mahalia Jackson Theatre for the Performing Arts in New Orleans and is booked in more than 30 cities through 2012.
Get a look back at the production, from Chicago to Broadway and beyond, below!
Photo Credit: Joan Marcus (Broadway, Chicago); Jeremy Daniel (Tour)
The current Broadway cast of The Addams Family starred Brooke Shields as Morticia, Roger Rees as Gomez; Brad Oscar as Fester, Rachel Potter as Wednesday, Jackie Hoffman as Grandma, Zachary James as Lurch, Adam Riegler as Pugsley, Heidi Blickenstaff as Alice Beineke, Adam Grupper as Mal Beineke and Jesse Swenson as Lucas Beineke; the original Broadway cast included Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth as Gomez and Morticia, Terrence Mann as Mal Beineke, Carolee Carmello as Alice Beineke, Kevin Chamberlin as Uncle Fester, Jackie Hoffman as Grandma, Zachary James as Lurch, Adam Riegler as Pugsley, Wesley Taylor as Lucas Beineke and Krysta Rodriguez as Wednesday.
The Addams Family Goes Green in New Public Service Announcement
The company of the Broadway musical comedy The Addams Family has partnered with the Broadway Green Alliance to create a creepy and kooky online public service announcement video to promote and inspire viewers to make more environmentally friendly choices in their everyday lives.
The Addams Family Musical An Entertaining Afternoon of Theatre
Catherine (me) and Rick Elice
Last weekend was a whirlwind of friends, parties, and great Broadway entertainment! AND I was able to spend some time with my favorite Broadway writer, Rick Elice. Rick is that rare breed of celebrity who is unassuming, humble and completely genuine. He is such a pleasure to know – one would never guess he has two of the top 10 shows currently running on Broadway.
While Saturday was all about Jersey Boys, Sunday was reserved for The Addams Family. I had second row center seats for the matinee – up close and personal - and I was a little bit nervous. There have been mixed reviews, not only from the critics, but from a few of the readers here on the blog, and I didn’t want to go in with any preconceptions about the show. So, I went in with an open mind, and I had a blast!
From the opening number “When You’re An Addams”, to the final curtain, I had a smile on my face and a laugh in my throat. I don’t want to get into a scene by scene analysis – that’s been done to death. I just want to share my thoughts.
Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth were wonderful as Gomez and Morticia, two parents facing what all parents face when they realize that their baby is all grown up and about to leave the nest. Of course, not all parents face it in quite the same way! Bebe was gorgeous! Her flawless skin and deadpan expression were classic Morticia. She danced beautifully, and her “Just Around The Corner” was one of my favorite numbers. Nathan definitely lived up to the hype. His comedic timing is impeccable, and he had the audience in stitches.
Kevin Chamberlin was hilarious as the “moonstruck” Uncle Fester. He really got into his oddball personae, and the audience loved him.
Jackie Hoffman as Grandma was as hysterical as everyone says. Although her role was small, she made the most of each and every line, leaving the audience doubled over in laughter. At one point during “dinner”, she was obviously ad-libbing, talking about running the mara…mara…mara..thon (NY marathon was run that day), and the cast was laughing so hard, Bebe actually had to lay her head on the table so the audience wouldn’t see. Of course, being in the second row, I could see her head shaking!
As the tormented young couple, Wednesday Addams and Lucas Beineke, Krysta Rodriguez and Wesley Taylor were fantastic. They portrayed just the right amount of teenage angst, mixed with a craziness that comes with young love. Krysta’s voice was crystal clear, with a bit of a rock edge to it, and Wesley was a perfect accompaniment. Their “Crazier Than You” was another of my favorites. I’ll be keeping an eye on their careers, I’m betting they go far.
Carollee Carmello and Terrence Mann played Alice and Mal Beineke, Lucas’s “normal” parents from Ohio. If that’s normal, I’d hate to see odd. She with her bright yellow dress and rhyming speech, and he with his tough-guy “I won’t be pushed around” act (until I meet the right squid), were very entertaining, and they played the roles to perfection.
As Lurch, the mostly silent butler, Zachary James was brilliant. And Adam Riegler was terrific as Pugsley. He had a fantastic voice for such a young age, and was very enjoyable to watch. His sadness at realizing his sister was growing up and wouldn’t be around to “play” with him much longer was very touching.
And last, but certainly by no means least, the Ancestors were all superb. Each one had his/her own personality, they danced beautifully, and the way they were utilized onstage was ingenious.
On the top of my list of ”high points” has to be the set design. Congratulations to Julian Crouch and Phelim McDermott for a tremendous job! Basil Twist’s puppetry was also spectacular, adding a layer of creativity not seen in many shows. And, as usual, Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman wrote a great story, with a perfect mix of humor, seriousness, and Charles Addams absurdity.
“Just Around The Corner” and ”Crazier Than You” were my favorite musical numbers, with “When You’re An Addams” and the tango scene following close behind. Gomez had two ballady numbers that dragged a bit (for me), but Nathan performed them beautifully. And Uncle Fester and the moon, and Mal Beineke and the squid were a bit over the top, but hey, this is the Addams Family - they are over the top!
Please bear with me while I vent….I know this is a family friendly show, and yes, they sell candy at the concession stand, but people, this is a high dollar Broadway show, not a movie theater. Please have the courtesy to NOT open loud candy wrappers, slurp noisily on lollipops, or rifle through your shopping bags in the middle of the performance (yes, I experienced all of this within two rows of me, and the perpetrators were all adults.) This is not only rude to your fellow audience members, but most especially to the cast.
I would like to say a huge thank you to the entire Addams Family ‘family’ for an exciting and entertaining afternoon of theatre!
“Ambassador” Riegler Reigns Over “Kid’s Night on Broadway”
Addams Family’s Adam Riegler Will Be Kids’ Night on Broadway’s National Ambassador
By Andrew Gans
06 Oct 2010
The Broadway League announced Oct. 6 that Adam Riegler, who plays Pugsley Addams in The Addams Family, will serve as the National Ambassador for Kids’ Night on Broadway’s special Halloween edition, which is presented with the support of Playbill.
This special edition of Kids’ Night will salute UNICEF and the 60th anniversary of its Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF program.
In a statement Riegler said, “I am honored to be the Ambassador for this special Halloween Kids’ Night on Broadway. Halloween is one of the greatest days of the year for kids, and Broadway is great for kids every day of the year! We’re asking kids to come dressed in costume as their favorite Broadway characters, and I can’t wait to look out at the audience to see all of the Pugsleys!”
Kids’ Night is scheduled for Oct. 31 in Manhattan. A pre-theatre Halloween party will kick off the celebration at 11 AM at Madame Tussauds New York. KNOB ticket holders will experience unique theatre activities as well as the famous attraction for free. To celebrate Halloween, there will be festive Broadway costume events, stage door trick-or-treating and more. Kids are encouraged to dress up as their favorite Broadway characters.
Click here to read article.
A Glimpse Into A (Two Performance) Day In The Life of Zachary James
from Playbill.com, PHOTO EXCLUSIVE…
By Matthew Blank
24 Aug 2010
Zachary James, The Addams Family’s butler Lurch, armed with a digital camera, offers a glimpse into a (two performance) day in the life of a Broadway performer, from morning wake-up to final curtain.
Placing the cursor over a picture will pause it, and reveal the caption.
Thank you, Playbill.com, and Mr. James, for these great pics!
Cast Change For “The Addams Family” Musical?
Saw this on Playbill.com under “Casting and Jobs” and found it very interesting. Anyone with inside info care to comment?
| Job Details | |
| Title | The Addams Family – role of Pugsley – Open Auditions |
| Category | Performer |
| Description | Broadway / Production Contract; $1605/week minimum Ongoing at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre Producer: Stuart Oken Directors: Julian Crouch and Phelim McDermott Choreographer: Sergio Trujillo Music & Lyrics: Andrew Lippa Book: Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice Music Director: Mary-Mitchell Campbell Casting: Telsey + Company/Justin HuffSeeking the following role only:Pugsley: Caucasian Male, 12 years old. Plump, adorable and funny. Enjoys being tortured by his sister Wednesday, he is unlike other boys his age. His singing voice needs to be big and unchanged.
|
Cast members of “The Addams Family” to Perform at Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble Lincoln Triangle has announced its events calendar for the month of July.
On Thursday, July 15 at 4:30pm, cast members of THE ADDAMS FAMILY will perform and sign copies of the original Cast Recording. Appearing at the event will be composer-lyricist Andrew Lippa, Bebe Neuwrith, Carolee Carmello, Zachary James, Adam Riegler, Wesley Taylor, Krysta Rodriguez and Jackie Hoffman.
Making The Most of Christmas On The Road
by Misha Davenport, The Chicago Sun-Times (excerpt); December 23, 2009
Krysta Rodriguez (left) and Adam Riegler, members of "The Addams Family" cast, peruse holiday items during their Christmas stay in Chicago.
OK, the stockings hung by the chimney with care are just her socks taped to the wall of her apartment. But Krysta Rodriguez, currently starring as Wednesday Addams in the pre-Broadway tryout of the new musical “The Addams Family,” wouldn’t have it any other way.
“These are the kind of holidays I remember more even than the ones from my childhood,” Rodriguez says.
Like many actors in touring productions or out-of-town tryouts, Rodriguez finds herself away from home for the holidays. Though she and the rest of the cast of “The Addams Family” have both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off, they’ll be back to work for a matinee at the Oriental Theatre on Saturday.
Two days isn’t much time to get out of town (especially in unpredictable weather) and as a result, most of the “Addams” family will be having a Chicago Christmas.
Rodriguez says she’s fine with it.
The Addams Family Musical Review “Recap”
Broadway In Chicago’s pre-Broadway world premiere presentation of The Addams Family, a new musical based on the bizarre family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, opened Wednesday, December 9 at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts’ Oriental Theater. The production continues in Chicago through January 10, and will play Broadway’s Lunt-Fontanne Theatre beginning March 4, with an anticipated opening date of April 8.
The musical stars Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth as Gomez and Morticia Adams, with Kevin Chamberlin (Uncle Fester), Jackie Hoffman (Grandmama), Zachary James (Lurch), Adam Riegler (Pugsley), and Krysta Rodriguez (Wednesday) rounding out the “Family”. Playing the “family who comes to dinner” are Terrence Mann and Carolee Carmello as Mal and Alice Beineke, and Wesley Taylor as Lucas Beineke, Wednesday’s love interest.
The production features direction and design by Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch, book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, and choreography by Sergio Trujillo.
Wednesday night’s performance was attended by many critics whose reactions are mixed, but the consensus is decidedly positive. Excerpts of some of those reviews follow:
By Hedy Weiss, Theater Critic, The Chicago Sun Times
“…there is rarely a dull moment as each grand shock of the new, each adjustment to change, each recognition of aging and each surprising rebirth wraps its arms itself around the characters of “The Addams Family.”
By Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
Sneak-Peek Video of Vanity Fair Shoot
Great behind-the-scenes footage from the recent photo shoot of The Addams Family portrait for Vanity Fair’s December issue.
