All Entries in the "Wesley Taylor" 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.
Krysta Rodriguez and Wesley Taylor Answer Fan Questions
In the latest installment of Broadway.com’s “Ask A Star”, The Addams Family’s Krysta Rodriguez and Wesley Taylor answer questions from fans.
Wesley Taylor Shooting “One Life to Live”
According to Wesley Taylor’s Facebook page, he will be out of the matinee tomorrow (Wednesday, January 12, 2011) and perhaps the evening show, also. Don’t worry, he’s not sick – he’s shooting scenes for the ABC soap “One Life to Live.” Apparently he’ll be playing a “Creeper”. I’ll post the episode air date when I know it.
Sorry for those who will miss Wesley tomorrow, but great for him! And if you do have a chance to see his understudy, please let us know how he was.
Congratulations Wes.
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!
Jonas Brothers Visit The Addams Family
Nick and Kevin Jonas, along with little brother Frankie, visited another famous family this week – The Addams Family!
For more pics, visit broadway.com.
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.
Wesley Taylor at the Duplex
music direction by
Will Van Dyke
Pit orchestra musicians rock on their day off under the musical direction of Will Van Dyke. With Greg Germann (drums), Jon Price (bass), Allison Seidner (cello), Jake Ezra Schwartz (guitar) and Erica Von Kleist (sax).
June features the music of Elton John performed by Alex Brightman (Wicked), Michael Buchanan (Cry-Baby), Celina Carvajal (Cats), Preston Sadleir (Mrs. Sharpe) and Wesley Taylor (The Addams Family).
$20 Cover at the door, plus 2 Drink Minimum
$15 with reservation or for AEA, plus 2 Drink Minimum
Mon, Jun 28 @ 9:30 PM
Reservations STRONGLY ADVISED!!!
Wes Taylor and Krysta Rodriguez Sing “Crazier Than You” at Joe’s Pub
Songs on Six Benefit Concert to Include Wesley Taylor
by Andrew Gans, Playbill.com
(The Addams Family’s Wesley Taylor will be a part of) Songs on Six, a benefit concert to support the Theatre Company at CAP21, (which) will be presented April 5 at The Shop @ CAP 21.
The 7:30 PM concert will feature new songs from new musicals. Attendees can expect to hear songs penned by Sean Mahoney and Creighton Irons, Timothy Huang, Anna Jacobs and Bill Nelson, Kirsten Guenther and Laurence O’Keefe, Daniel Maté, Mike Pettry and Heidi Heilig, Ryan Cunningham and Joshua Salzman, Will Aronson, Rachel Jett, Julianne Wick Davis, Barbara Anselmi and Brian Hargrove, Joe Iconis, Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair, Randy Blair and Timothy Michael Drucker, Michael R. Jackson, Alexander Gemignani and Brad Bauner, Brian Lowdermilk and Kait Kerrigan, Tina Lear, Michelle Elliott and Danny Larsen, Rob Baumgartner, Lance Horne, and Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond.
Performers are scheduled to include Lauren Blackman, Matt Dengler (A Little Night Music), Claybourne Elder (Road Show), Steven Eng, Kate Ferber, Molly Hager (upcoming film “It’s Kind Of a Funny Story”), Carly Jibson (Cry-baby, Hairspray), Jay Armstrong Johnson (Hair), Lindsay Mendez (Grease), Ryah Nixon, Q Smith (Mary Poppins), Dana Steingold (Anyone Can Whistle, Spelling Bee), Shaina Taub, Jason Tam (A Chorus Line), Wesley Taylor (Addams Family, Rock of Ages) and Jason “Sweettooth” Williams as well as writers Lance Horne, Joe Kinosian, Brian Lowdermilk and Kait Kerrigan and Randy Blair and Timothy Michael Drucker, who will perform their own material.
Timothy Michael Drucker will direct the concert with musical direction by Anthony DiDonna.
A wine reception will follow the performance.
The Shop @ CAP21 is located at 18 West 18th Street, sixth floor. For tickets, priced $20, call (212) 352-3101.
Joe’s Pub A Hot Spot on May 3rd for Addams Family Fans
Kevin Chamberlin
At 9:30, two-time Tony nominee Kevin Chamberlin (Uncle Fester, The Addams Family) will offer Kevin Chamberlin and Friends Present: Broadway Sings TV . The show, which will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, will spotlight Chamberlain and other theatre performers singing TV theme songs from the 60s through the 90s.
As if that weren’t enough, following that show…..
Mitch Jarvis, Krysta Rodriguez, Wesley Taylor, Lauren Molina and Matt Doyle
THE ADDAMS FAMILY’s Wesley Taylor (Lucas Beineke) brings ‘Wesley & Friends’ to the stage at 11:30. Joining Wesley will be AF co-star Krysta Rodriguez (Wednesday Addams), along with friends Matt Doyle (Spring Awakening, Bye Bye Birdie), Mitch Jarvis (Fiddler on the Roof, Rock of Ages), and Lauren Molina (Sweeney Todd, Rock of Ages). The concert will feature pop tunes, show tunes and original tunes.
Joe’s Pub is located at 425 Lafayette Street, New York, NY. For ticket information, call (212) 539-8778, or click here to visit their web site.
Watch Krysta Rodriguez and Wesley Taylor on Seth’s B’way Chatterbox
On Thursday, March 18, Krysta Rodriguez and Wesley Taylor were guests on Seth Rudetsky’s live show, Seth’s Broadway Chatterbox. See the show here, courtesy of BroadwayWorld.com:
Addams Family’s Rodriguez and Taylor Featured on Seth’s B’Way Chatterbox
ADDAM’S FAMILY stars Krysta Rodriguez and Wesley Taylor will be the featured guests on Seth’s Broadway Chatterbox this evening, Thursday, March 18 at 6pm. Seth’s Broadway Chatterbox is a one hour weekly talk show at Don’t Tell Mama, hosted by Seth Rudetsky. The show is taped in front of a live audience and airs on BroadwayWorld.com Radio Mondays at 7pm, Wednesdays at 10pm and Sundays at noon.
To attend Chatterbox, there is a $10 donation and a two-drink minimum. The donation goes directly to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the nation’s leading industry-based, not-for-profit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organization.
If you aren’t able to see the show in person, check back here for a link when it airs.
Wesley Taylor Has Been A Busy Boy
It’s been an exciting year for young Wesley Taylor. Exciting and busy. Not just because he was cast as Lucas Beineke (Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend) in the broadway-bound new musical The Addams Family, although that may have been the icing on the cake. Just take a look at some of the things Wesley has been up to in 2009….
…Wesley made his Broadway debut as Franz in Rock of Ages (which garnered him this comment from Raven Snook, Time Out NY: He may not get top billing, but whenever Wesley Taylor takes the stage as Franz … he’s the star of the show)…
…his role in ROA landed him an OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE nomination for outstanding featured actor in a musical…
…Wesley won the THEATRE WORLD AWARD for OUTSTANDING BROADWAY DEBUT…
…he and ROA castmates Lauren Molina and Mitchell Jarvis developed a webseries called “ROA productions,” a glimpse into the backstage life of Rock of Ages…
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
