The Addams Family Goes to Broadway in Chicago

The ever popular, though stylistically macabre, Addams Family is set to appear in their own musical on Broadway in 2010. But first, there will be a limited run for the show in Chicago starting on November 13, 2009 and ending on January 10, 2010. After this time, the show will head to Broadway.

I've been lucky to see a handful of Broadway shows in Chicago at the beautiful Ford Center/Oriental Theater. Among them was, "Wicked", which I saw twice and, "Beauty and the Beast". The experience of Broadway in Chicago is one that I would recommend to everyone. The quality is never any less than a true Broadway Show, but the ticket prices are cheaper and travel is more feasible for mid-westerners. But what can we expect from the Addams Family show?

For starters, the Addams Family has proved their entertainment value time and time again in several different mediums, which makes them a good bet for Broadway. They began as a single panel cartoon in the New Yorker and were popular thanks to their strange opposition to the tone of the American dream. Since their origins in the New Yorker, they've been a television series, a cartoon television series, and even two blockbuster live action films starring Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd and Christina Ricci.

According to the pamphlet that I received from Broadway in Chicago, the two main leads of Morticia and Gomez Addams have already been cast. Appearing as Gomez will be prolific actor, Nathan Lane. The equally experienced Bebe Neuwirth will be playing Morticia. The show was written by the authors of, "Jersey Boys", with songs by Andrew Lippa, and choreography by Sergio Trujillo. Rounding out the production staff is director Phelim McDermott who is co-designing the show with Julian Crouch.

As far as the plot of the show, the Broadway in Chicago pamphlet states, "It's an Addams Family portrait you've never seen before. Gomez, all mad impetuosity, Morticia, equal parts fire and ice, Fester, restless and romantic, Pugsley, for whom immediate gratification can't come soon enough and Wednesday, eighteen years old and finally feeling what it means to be a woman. A family that's quite shockingly, and endearingly, just like yours."

Tickets run anywhere from 28 dollars all the way up to 105 dollars, which may sound steep, but is actually quite a bargain when it comes to a Broadway show. As always with the Broadway in Chicago series, you can get your tickets through Ticketmaster and special deals are typically available for large groups of 20 or more.

In the past, I haven't had the best track record with predicting which shows will be hits or misses. I thought "Legally Blonde" would tank and it took me a long time to even go see, "Wicked". But there's something about the Addams Family that seems like a safe bet. It's got plenty of history, the characters are lovable, not just despite their eccentricities, but because of them. Also, a live show is never that big of a risk. Even if you don't love the material, going to see live theater is such an all-encompassing experience. I would highly recommend giving this show a try next November, especially if you live in the area. I know I will.