"Addams Family" in for therapy

[Lankypeters]

Jerry Zaks has been called in to rework "THe Addams Family," the Broadway bound musical trying out in Chicago.

 

The backstage drama, I hear, could be turned into a musical called "The Ethel Merman Story." Who plays LaMerm?

[ManToManDave]

Word on the street is that Ms Neuwirth is EXTREMELY unhappy. And word is she has every reason to be -- as the show is kinda a mess. Not helping one bit is that bitter gossip queen drama "critic" from the NY Post printing lies about Nathan Lane running his mouth at the Spa at the 4 Seasons where the company is staying in Chicago. (never happened)

 

Also sad to hear the Ragtime revivial is closing -- as the show has MANY wonderful qualities, esp. the opening number. I think you can see the original on YouTube. (from the Tony's, I believe).

 

I miss Broadway. :-(

 

Dave

http://www.ManToManEscorts.com

[Lankypeters]

In the ongoing saga of this show's journey to Gotham, it should also be pointed out that, according to theater lore, the Lunt Fontanne, where "The Addams Family" will play, is a jinxed house. There has not been a hit there since "The Sound of Music" closed in '63(?).

The nuns did it.

 

But perhaps Anderson Cooper's cousin will set the recored straight (as it were).

[Steven_Draker]

Jerry Zaks has been called in to rework "The Addams Family," the Broadway bound musical trying out in Chicago.

 

Well, Lankypeters, I'm glad you didn't have to "endure" the original version during the previews in Chicago which lasted 3 hours. The current version is reduced to 2h40 and they're still working on it ... Having seen the production in Chicago (see my original post), I found it just great for my taste and wasn't bored for a minute ...

[NYTomcat]

I've heard tell they have some script problems in trying to shorten as well. Apparently Mr. Lane's tempo is different than what the writers invisioned and while often hysterical slows down the production. They can't pick up speed without loosing so they have to cut something else. (Better not be a BeBe song cause I love her pipes)

[operalover21]

Jerry Zaks has been called in to rework "THe Addams Family," the Broadway bound musical trying out in Chicago.

 

The backstage drama, I hear, could be turned into a musical called "The Ethel Merman Story." Who plays LaMerm?

 

I saw the out of town tryout in Chicago. Yes, definitely a mess. The book is one of the worst ever. Really awful. They need some major re-tooling or this thing will limp into Broadway mortally wounded, if at all.

 

I don't get the Merman (whom I knew) reference at all to what is going on here.

[edjames]

The initial reading for the play in NYC last year went very well and everyone was very happy that they seemd to have a hit on their hands. Alas, not true! The Chicago reviewers were kind but offered sound advice that the show meandered off course and needed work. Bebe begged the writer and composer for help in "finding" her character. (Why didn't she just do a sexy version of Lilith?). Anyway, yes MR in the NY Post wrote about Mr. Lane's complaints in the spa and NL wrote back to deny it, but who knows? Something was said somewhere otherwise MR wouln't have felt good about publishing it.

 

Anyway we hope that Jerry comes to the rescue and show finds it's footing before it lands in NYC.

 

A word of warning, this is what previews and out of town tryouts are all about. Some shows are lucky and arrive in good shape and little work needs to be done, others need a reconstructive surgery. Jane Fonda's 33 Variations, comes to mind. That show arrived for previews with a lot of work to be done. Moises Kaufman worked on it show until opening night. he actually made a curtain appearance before the show began that I saw to tell the audience that the show they were about to see was not likely to be the one that was seen on opening night.

 

On a brighter not RAGTIME has been given a week's reprieve and will not close on Sunday, so if you haven't seen it you have one more week.

 

Happy New Year, everyone!

 

ED

[Steven_Draker]

'hijacking' the thread

 

On a brighter not RAGTIME has been given a week's reprieve and will not close on Sunday, so if you haven't seen it you have one more week.

 

I thought "Ragtime" just opened a few weeks ago ... why closing so soon?

I'm glad I saw it in December, although I wasn't that impressed as with "The Addams Family" ...

but then again I'm a sucker for a good, funny and entertaining musical ...

[uwsman2]

Ragtime

 

I saw Ragtime a few weeks ago. I actually enjoyed it more than the original production, which I thought was more about the special effects than the story. This production is about the story, and the young man singing the lead role of Coalhouse Walker is superb. I was disappointed to hear that the closing notice had been put up, but the evening I was there they had plenty of empty seats, so that explains it. You can't keep a show like that running too long without super ticket sales - the weekly cash outflow is just too big. But I'm glad to hear they've given it a one-week reprieve. Now everybody who's been meaning to go should get out there and go!!

[Guest LeoWalker]

The only complaint with the Addams Family was the first duo between Lane and BeBe...their voices did not go well together. I figured that may have been purposeful, though. Otherwise, the show was enjoyable and quite humorous.

 

Everyone was laughing with Lester's (?) infatuation with the moon.

[+ purplekow]

I have my tickets for the New York production. I assume it was Uncle Fester who was infatuated with the moon, unless there is a new character.

[NYTomcat]

Im told the production is making great strides in the right direction. So by the time NY opens it may be a much faster paced and witty show. Someone said even lyrics are being reworked. It would be interesting to see if someone who saw Chicago could compare to nYC production. LEO or Steven D. that seems like your the likely candidates I can think of

[Guest LeoWalker]

Im told the production is making great strides in the right direction. So by the time NY opens it may be a much faster paced and witty show. Someone said even lyrics are being reworked. It would be interesting to see if someone who saw Chicago could compare to nYC production. LEO or Steven D. that seems like your the likely candidates I can think of

 

I'll oblige to this request... The show was good and I'm curious to see what they'd change once it hits broadway. I'm still new to the whole show shaping process.

[NYTomcat]

I'll oblige to this request... The show was good and I'm curious to see what they'd change once it hits broadway. I'm still new to the whole show shaping process.

 

Let me know when your coming and I'll get us tickets. Perhaps spring when the "better in Florida" weather is over here.

[Guest LeoWalker]

Let me know when your coming and I'll get us tickets. Perhaps spring when the "better in Florida" weather is over here.

 

Sounds good on the tickets.

 

But OMG...don't remind me that I've been freezing here. The place I've rented does not have heat...and I'd check the weather and see that warmth was coming just to be let down. If this doesn't change like the current weather forecast shows, then I'm buying a heater. Granted...it's still better than staying at my place in Chicago this winter.