All Entries Tagged With: "Addams Family Musical"
Replacement Named for Nathan Lane in The Addams Family Musical
Well, it’s been discussed at length here on the Addams Family Blog….who will replace Nathan Lane when his contract expires in March? Readers weighed in, with suggestions all over the place - from Danny DeVito to Antonio Banderas. But the guessing game is over, for it has been announced that Tony winner Roger Rees will take over the role of Gomez Addams on March 22, 2011. And to add to this piece of good news, it has also been announced that Bebe Neuwirth will continue in her role as Morticia into the summer months. Congratulations to Mr. Rees, and to the entire cast of The Addams Family!
Mr. Rees, who is recognizable from many venues – he won a Tony Award for best actor in 1982 for the play “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickelby”…he played the Sheriff of Rottingham in Mel Brooks’ 1993 film, “Robin Hood: Men in Tights”…he appeared in “The West Wing” from 2000-2005 as Lord John Marbury – is no stranger to The Addams Family family. He is currently working with Rick Elice, co-directing Elice’s Peter and the Starcatchers as part of the New York Theatre Workshop’s 2010-2011 season. And Mr. Rees is close friends with Bebe Neuwirth. The two are perhaps best known for their overlapping work on the NBC series “Cheers.” Mr. Rees was a frequent guest star on “Cheers” as Robin Colcord, a British playboy and love interest of bar manager Rebecca Howe, played by Kirstie Alley; Ms. Neuwirth played the chilly psychiatrist Lilith Crane on the show.
Nathan Lane fans, rest assured your favorite Gomez will continue in his role until March 6, giving you plenty of time to get yourself to the theatre! After Mr. Lane’s final show, understudies will play Gomez opposite Ms. Neuwirth until Mr. Rees joins the show on March 22.
Un-Happy Hour with The Addams Family
This sounds like fun!!
Un-Happy Hour with the Addams Family Cast
| When | Wed, October 20,6:00 pm – 7:30 pm |
|---|---|
| Where | Village Pourhouse, Restaurant Row |
| Admission | Ticketed Event |
| Description |
Who: Join Krysta Rodriguez (Wednesday Addams) and other cast members for 2 for 1 Pugsley Rum Punch, Jim Beam “Black” and Cokes and “Black” and Blue Beer Cocktails until 7:30pm The first 25 people to RSVP will receive a Free Pugsley Rum Punch What: Bring your ticket stub from THE ADDAMS FAMILY any Wednesday for 15% off your bar tab and make sure you ask for the limited edition $19.95 Pre-Show ADDAMS FAMILY Menu that includes a Complimentary Pugsley Punch (non-alcoholic version available) Where: Village Pourhouse Restaurant Row 366 West 46th St RSVP: Emily@Yourpartyplanning.com When: 6PM – 730PM
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| Website | (click here) |
Rockers On Broadway – Dance Party at BB King Blues Club
The PATH Fund and The Frye Company Present: ROCKERS ON BROADWAY-Dance Party
Broadway stars and Rock stars will join the audience to dance the night away when Rockers on Broadway returns to BB King Blues Club on Monday, November 8th at 8pm.
The latest edition of ROCKERS ON BROADWAY returns to BB King’s for another great evening of music but this time with a twist–they’ve cleared the dance floor so the audience can rock out to their favorite dance hits. Directed by Donnie Kehr, ROCKERS ON BROADWAY–Dance Party features some of the hottest dance tunes from Elvis to GaGa, performed by Broadway stars and the Rock stars who made them famous. The concert will benefit Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS, Broadway Dreams Foundation, Broadway in South Africa, and The Bendheim Performing Arts Center Scholarship Fund.
Starring:
Chris Barron from Spin Doctors; Randy Jones from The Village People; Fred Schneider from The B52s, and Sirius Radio Star “Cousin Brucie” Morrow. Plus, Tony Award Winners Alice Ripley (Next to Normal) and Wilson Jermaine Heredia (Rent) and Tony Nominees Chad Kimball (Memphis) & Daphne Rubin Vega (Rent, Anna in the Tropics).
Featuring From Broadway:
Kathy Brier (Hairspray, TV’s Boardwalk Empire), Tituss Burgess (Guys & Dolls, Little Mermaid, Jersey Boys), Ben Cameron (Wicked, Aida), Te’Rea Campbell (Lion King), Jessica Dillan (Thoroughly Modern Millie), Anika Ellis (The Color Purple), Felicia Finley (The Wedding Singer), John Arthur Greene (West Side Story), Steve Gouveia (Jersey Boys), Emma Hunton (Next to Normal, Spring Awakening), Adam Kantor (Rent), Donnie Kehr (Billy Elliot, Jersey Boys), James Kinney (Sweet Charity), Jeremy Kushiner (Jersey Boys, Footloose, Rent), Jay Leslie (rock group The Tokens), Ian Liberto (Promises, Promises). Michael Longoria (Jersey Boys), Alex Nordin, Jermaine R. Rembert (Memphis), Sara Schmidt (Jersey Boys), Jeremy Schonfeld (Clear Blue Tuesday, Drift), Nikki Snelson (Legally Blonde), Wendi Stoltzfus, Doug Storm (Dance of the Vampires) Alena Watters (The Addams Family), Tommar Wilson (Hair).
Rockers on Broadway, now in its 17th year, was founded by Donnie Kehr while appearing in the Broadway run of The Who’s Tommy and was inspired by Pete Townshend, who wanted the play’s performers to experience the feeling of singing with a rock band in a concert style venue, and to transfer the rawness of that edge to the stage.
“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.
Nathan Lane and Kevin Chamberlin Eyeing New Roles?
NATHAN LANE MAY PLAY ‘THE NANCE’
By PATRICK HEALY, The NY Times Art Beat
October 5, 2010, 11:00 am
What’s next for Nathan Lane, after his Broadway run in “The Addams Family” ends in the spring? Mr. Lane is considering Douglas Carter Beane’s new play, “The Nance,” about a performer who played the role of the nance in burlesque shows in the early-20th century.
Nance, or nancy boy, is disparaging slang for an effeminate or homosexual man, and nances were popular theatrical figures, akin to blackface performers, during the 1920s and ’30s. Mr. Beane, in a telephone interview, said he held a reading of the play in his living room about a month ago with Mr. Lane, Benjamin Walker (“Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson”), Daphne Rubin-Vega (“Rent”) and Kevin Chamberlin (“The Addams Family”), and that he was hoping to do a reading guided by a director at Lincoln Center Theater this season.
“Nathan is certainly interested, and was excited about the role,” said Mr. Beane, a Tony Award nominee for “The Little Dog Laughed” whose plays also include “Mr. & Mrs. Fitch” and “As Bees in Honey Drown.” “I’m hopeful. I think it’s the best thing I’ve ever done, in a weird way, considering it’s my first real period piece.”
Andre Bishop, artistic director of Lincoln Center Theater, said he was “very interested in producing ‘The Nance’ but nothing is firmed up yet in terms of where and when.” He added that Mr. Lane was interested in portraying the main character, who plays the nance in shows at the Irving, a downtown theater, during the era when Mayor Fiorello La Guardia was moving to ban burlesque in New York City.
Asked what about “The Nance” interested him, Mr. Bishop said: “The play has lots of hilarious old routines in it with lots of innuendo and double-entendres. But the play is also painful, as times and moral judgments changed. I think it is wonderful.”
Mr. Lane did not reply to two days of inquiries relayed by his publicist, Simon Halls. But Mr. Halls confirmed that Mr. Lane “loves the play and is excited by the prospect of doing it.”
Rachel de Benedet, Terrence Mann Cast In NAMT Musicals
Rachel de Benedet
I was excited to read the casting announcement for NAMT’s Festival of New Musicals, which will be presented in Manhattan this October, for not only does it include two of our own Addams Family members, but also one of my favorite performers, Christian Hoff.
Christian Hoff
Terrence Mann
The National Alliance for Musical Theatre presents the annual festival for industry members, which showcases eight new musicals in 45-minute staged readings. A host of Broadway veterans populate the presentations that will be offered Oct. 21-22. For more information, and complete casting, visit NAMT.
Merwin Foard Featured On New Christmas Carol Recording
Two of my Broadway favorites, Merwin Foard and Daniel Reichard, can be heard together on new ‘Christmas Carol’ recording!
Foard at "The Little Mermaid" Opening Night
Reichard at "The Addams Family" Opening Night
Daniel Reichard (Jersey Boys) as Fred and Ghost of Christmas Past, and Sean Palmer as Young Scrooge.
A Christmas Carol–The Concert features music by Bob Christianson and lyrics and a book adaptation by Alisa Hauser.
Who Would Be YOUR Picks For Gomez and Morticia Replacements?
According to several news sources, producers of The Addams Family are actively searching for replacements for Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth, whose contracts expire in March, 2011. Although (according to the NY Times) star actors were deliberately played down in the show’s advertising – emphasizing instead the famous Addams brand – which would make it easier for actors to “slide” into the lead roles, after the recent hit the box office took when Lane was out on vacation, it would seem they are searching for recognizable names to fill the Gomez and Morticia costumes.
It is rumored that John Leguizamo and Minnie Driver, who would have fit the bill quite nicely, both turned down offers, with no specific reasons given. So the search continues.
Who would YOU pick to replace Bebe and Nathan? Let’s hear it from the fans!
Bebe Neuwirth will show off ‘Morticia’s Nails’ on July 15
Bebe Neuwirth to Unveil The Addams Family Themed Nail Polish, With Proceeds to Benefit the Actors Fund
Tony winner Bebe Neuwirth will host the launch of Morticia’s Nails, a nail polish collection inspired by her character in The Addams Family, on July 15 at the Eventi Hotel. Neuwirth and her husband, Chris Calkins, have teamed with Essie Cosmetics to design and release the line, which will include three colors: Midnight Tango, Bone Chilling White and Blood Curdling Red. All proceeds will benefit The Actors Fund. Neuwirth will be joined by her female Addams co-stars at the event.
Morticia’s Nails will have a limited release of 5,000 pieces retailing at $30 per three-color set. Neuwirth expects the collection to raise more than $100,000 for charity.
Later on July 15, the actress will appear with Addams castmates Carolee Carmello, Jackie Hoffman, Zachary James, Wesley Taylor, Adam Riegler and Krysta Rodriguez, and composer Andrew Lippa at an album signing for the show’s cast recording at the Lincoln Square Barnes and Noble.
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.
Another Look At Merwin Foard
I’ve posted a couple of interviews/articles on Merwin Foard, understudy for Gomez and Mal Beineke in The Addams Family Musical, but I think my readers can stand one more. I find Foard truly fascinating, and anyone who can go on in the lead role of a show, without a single cast rehearsal, is a hero in my book!
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Understanding Broadway: The Standby
By Frank DiLella, Theatre Producer for NY1 News
01 Jul 2010
Merwin Foard observing the performance from the backstage monitor at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.
There’s a chameleon lurking in the wings over at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. No, I’m not talking about the Basil Twist creature that lives under Pugsley Addams’ bed.
Eight times a week this chameleon, known as actor Merwin Foard, sits patiently backstage, prepared to step in for Nathan Lane’s Gomez or Terrence Mann’s Mal Beineke — just in case anything goes wrong with either performer.
Foard, a longtime musical theatre vet, has spent the last few years standing by for some of Broadway’s biggest stars, from Michael Cerveris’ Sweeney in Sweeney Todd to Brian Stokes Mitchell’s Fred in Kiss Me, Kate. Foard’s new home is now with The Addams Family.
“I arrive at the theatre an hour before curtain and go to the green room, where we have a video screen of the stage,” said Foard during a recent matinee. “Once the performance begins, I watch the monitor and check for differences in choreography and blocking. Physically, I perform the show with the performers while watching it on the screen.”
Unlike a typical understudy in a Broadway musical, who also appears as a minor role in the show or in the chorus, Foard is called a standby — a role that demands an actor to literally stand by — in case a leading performer needs to miss a show or leave mid-performance.
“It’s a tricky thing to take on,” added Foard. “You have to do it all on your own. You’re subject to watch the rehearsal…but you’re rarely physically on your feet…so it requires a lot of homework you need to do privately.”
That homework came in handy out of town last fall in Chicago, where The Addams Family had its world premiere.
“It was Thanksgiving weekend and Nathan came down with bronchitis,” said Foard. “I had no rehearsal and we were in previews. All the rehearsal time had been afforded to the actual cast, so when it was announced that Nathan was going to have to miss a show, we all went into emergency mode.”
He added, “I worked with our musical director, choreographer and director to get me as physically prepared as I could be in a rehearsal studio so that I could do the next three performances.”
As for his initial reaction when he was told he was going on for the first time as Gomez? “Shock. It was so early on in the process and you can’t fault Nathan for being ill. I got into this laser focus. You say to yourself: ‘[I] have to do it’ — because the only other option is to cancel the performance.”
It also helps to get support from the show’s leading lady, Bebe Neuwirth. “Bebe was fantastic. She was there to rehearse scenes and choreography.”
And while this chameleon, who calls himself “the Swiss army knife of Broadway,” has made a career of standing by for some of Broadway’s finest, he says he hopes to continue to shed layers, looking forward to new experiences on The Great White Way.
“Of course it’s nice to be thought of as a dependable back-up. But I’m anxious to have a role outright and not have to split focus.”
Nathan Lane is Broadway.com’s #1 Superstar of the Decade
Broadway.com at 10: Top 10 Stage Superstars of the Decade
Features By Kathy Henderson, May 18, 2010
In the same way that Angelina or George Clooney can “open” a movie, a very short list of theater actors have the star power to attract producers (and audiences) on the strength of their name and talent alone. Broadway.com’s tenth anniversary is the perfect time to pay tribute to 10 stage superstars of the past decade—and to thank them for their loyalty to the Great White Way.
1. Nathan Lane
To borrow a lyric from his Tony-winning character Max Bialystock, Nathan Lane reigns as “the king of old Broadway.” After his triumph in The Producers (2001), Lane could have coasted through his pick of musical revivals, but he’s insisted on stretching his outsize talent in an impressive series of shows with nothing in common beyond his desire to bring them to Broadway: his own adaptation of The Frogs (2004), a smash-hit revival of The Odd Couple (2006), a black-comedy turn in Butley (2006), David Mamet’s satirical November (2008), an acclaimed revival of Waiting for Godot (2009) and now an irresistible performance as Gomez in the new musical The Addams Family. Wow! Where Nathan goes, audiences follow.
The following actors finish the list. To read the entire article, click here.
2. Patti Lupone
3. Kristin Chenoweth
4. Harvey Fierstein
5. Hugh Jackman
6. Liev Schreiber
7. Laura Linney
8. Angela Lansbury
9. Audra McDonald
10. Mary-Louise Parker
“The Addams Family” Visits Borders at Columbus Circle
On Friday, May 14th, Borders Columbus Circle will present “The Addams Family: From Page to Stage”. At the event, Sarah Henry, curator of the Charles Addams Exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York, will lead a discussion with The Addams Family creative team members Andrew Lippa (Composery/Lyricist), Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman (Book Writers). Joining them will be Kevin Miserochhi, author of the new collection of Charles Addams drawings entitled “An Evilution”.
The event will begin at 5pm with a discussion of the show’s development, as well as a performance by Tony nominee Kevin Chamberlin, and members of The Addams Family cast.
Wes Taylor and Krysta Rodriguez Sing “Crazier Than You” at Joe’s Pub
