Variety reports that Andrew Lippa’s musical version of The Addams Family is moving full steam ahead.
In a closed reading in August, Gomez will be played by Nathan Lane (not often you think of Lane in a role once inhabited — onscreen — by Raul Julia) and Morticia will be played by Bebe Neuwirth. How perfect is that? From Lilith Crane to Velma Kelly to Morticia Addams. Seems logical to me.
The book is by the Jersey Boys boys Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman, and direction and design comes from Improbable Theatre founders Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch (Shockheaded Peter, which Bay Area audiences saw at American Conservatory Theater).
Variety says the show is aiming for the 2009-10 season.
As the song says, “When you got it, flaunt it.” But when you don’t got it, close it. That’s the advice the producers of Broadway’s The Producers are following.
After six years and 2,502 performances, Mel Brooks’ mischievous, merry musical will ring down the curtain April 22 at New York’s St. James Theatre.
When the musical opened in 2001 with stars Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, the noisy hype grew to a deafening roar. The show won a record-setting 12 Tony Awards and spawned the infamous “premium ticket,” which allowed greedy producers to up the price on the in-demand tickets — already a steep $100 — to $480.
If you didn’t get to see the show on Broadway or in its several Bay Area tour stops, there’s always the mediocre movie (featuring much of the original cast plus Will Ferrell and Uma Thurman). And if you’re really motivated to see the show after April, chances are you can still catch David Hasselhoff – in drag no less — in the shortened version at the Paris Las Vegas resort.
The Associated Press reports that worldwide, The Producers generated more than $1 billion in ticket sales.
