# Nathan Lane & Bebe Neuwirth to star in new Broadway musical of "The Addams Family" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 12, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth-to-star-in-new-broadway-musical-of-the-addams-family/496167 "2009-05-12T15:21:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth-to-star-in-new-broadway-musical-of-the-addams-family/496167/1 "2009-05-12T15:21:08Z")
[Story here](http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/11/snap-snap-lane-neuwirth-to-star-in-broadways-addams-family/) So what do you think? ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth-to-star-in-new-broadway-musical-of-the-addams-family/496167/2 "2009-05-12T15:40:17Z")
Not sure I’m crazy about the plot idea, but I do think that Lane would make an excellent Gomez. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth-to-star-in-new-broadway-musical-of-the-addams-family/496167/3 "2009-05-12T15:42:11Z")
That’s…intriguing. I think Bebe could definitely do Carolyn Jones proud. And Lane could pull off a John Astin Gomez (though I don’t think he could pull off a Raul Julia Gomez). I almost asked if Neuwirth (5’ 4") was tall enough for Morticia, but Carolyn Jones was only 5’ 5". Anjelica Huston is 5’ 10", but she was also paired with 6’ 2" Raul Julia, whereas Jones was paired with 5’ 11" John Astin and Nathan Lane is 5’ 5" himself. If anything, they’re going to have to give Nathan lifts. I was just way too obsessive about height, wasn’t I? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth-to-star-in-new-broadway-musical-of-the-addams-family/496167/4 "2009-05-12T15:49:26Z")
Even if I wasn’t tired of the movie\>musical trend, no. I guess people who heard they were making a movie out of the original TV show felt the same way, but I liked the movie a lot. I’ve seen Lane in a bunch of things (most recently Waiting for Godot) and I don’t think he measures up. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth-to-star-in-new-broadway-musical-of-the-addams-family/496167/5 "2009-05-12T15:53:09Z")
It opens here in Chicago before going on to Broadway. Really hoping I can get tickets! ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth-to-star-in-new-broadway-musical-of-the-addams-family/496167/6 "2009-05-12T16:11:05Z")
Has everybody forgotten the original cartoons? Mortitia was several inches taller than Gomez, who was always portrayed as short and squat. Lane is much closer to the original image than either Astin or Julia. Bebe Neuwirth has the facial look but she’s going to need heels to get the proper length. Not that I expect that the musical will be paying any attention to the original cartoons. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth-to-star-in-new-broadway-musical-of-the-addams-family/496167/7 "2009-05-12T16:18:02Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Not that I expect that the musical will be paying any attention to the original cartoons. :rolleyes: I don’t know. The first movie had some scenes reproducing some of the original cartoons. This show is not going to be done in Hollywood, but rather done not that far from the New Yorker, so there is some hope. The TV show didn’t reproduce the cartoons that much, but did add some interesting depth to the characters. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth-to-star-in-new-broadway-musical-of-the-addams-family/496167/8 "2009-05-12T16:23:33Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I don’t know. The first movie had some scenes reproducing some of the original cartoons. Yep. I’ll admit that I got a little chill in the opening scene when the camera pulled up from the carolers to the family on the roof, with the cauldron of boiling oil. Tugged right on my “OOOH! I remember that one!” string. ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth-to-star-in-new-broadway-musical-of-the-addams-family/496167/9 "2009-05-12T19:09:53Z")
At first I thought Nathan Lane a strange choice but then I looked up the images of the old New Yorker comics and he’s an excellent fit both in appearance and of course he’s a brilliant performer. Bebe Neuwirth I didn’t have as strong a reaction, but I’m sure she’ll also be great. Who’s composing? I didn’t see that in the brief article I read. ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth-to-star-in-new-broadway-musical-of-the-addams-family/496167/10 "2009-05-12T19:14:13Z")
score by Andrew Lippa and the book by the same team that did “Jersey Boys,” Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. never mind, found it. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth-to-star-in-new-broadway-musical-of-the-addams-family/496167/11 "2009-05-12T22:23:54Z")
On Cheers, didn’t Carla call Neuwirth’s character “Morticia” on at least one occasion? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth-to-star-in-new-broadway-musical-of-the-addams-family/496167/12 "2009-05-12T22:37:43Z")
> [@ArrMatey](#): > > Not sure I’m crazy about the plot idea, but I do think that Lane would make an excellent Gomez. What he said. The plot looks like an odd choice. Might be interesting to see how they pull it off, though. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth-to-star-in-new-broadway-musical-of-the-addams-family/496167/13 "2009-05-13T00:51:37Z")
On first read I overlooked the “dd” in the name and thought Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth were starring in a musical based on the lives of John and Abagail Adams. Which might be really cool. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth-to-star-in-new-broadway-musical-of-the-addams-family/496167/14 "2009-05-13T01:01:42Z")
I agree–the plot is weird, but I like the actors! Very cool. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth-to-star-in-new-broadway-musical-of-the-addams-family/496167/15 "2009-05-13T01:22:19Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > On Cheers, didn’t Carla call Neuwirth’s character “Morticia” on at least one occasion? She did, and Joe on _Wings_ (which had the same producers as _Cheers_) called her Morticia in a Frasier & Lilith crossover episode. The irony to me is that I don’t know how good a Morticia she’d make because I’ve never seen her in anything where she seemed _warm_ enough to be Morticia, for she was actually a very nice and generous and above all sensuous person. The family just happened to be a bit kooky and spooky. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth-to-star-in-new-broadway-musical-of-the-addams-family/496167/16 "2009-05-13T01:22:25Z")
are all the songs going to be minor key and gloomy? what about lurch? how tall will he be? i think carla and joe were impressed by skin and hair colur, that was very morticia. personality wise not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth-to-star-in-new-broadway-musical-of-the-addams-family/496167/17 "2009-05-13T01:25:02Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > On first read I overlooked the “dd” in the name and thought Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth were starring in a musical based on the lives of John and Abagail Adams. > > Which might be really cool. Til then Til then I am as I ever was and ever shall be à vous CARA MIA! That’s FRENCH! ---
**Author:** ![DaphneBlack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daphneblack/32/5389_2.png) [@DaphneBlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaphneBlack)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth-to-star-in-new-broadway-musical-of-the-addams-family/496167/18 "2009-05-13T02:33:22Z")
I’m interested. Bebe is one of my favourites, and Nathan is a great performer. I wonder what kind of songs there’ll be – I’m not a big fan of ‘The Wild Party’. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth-to-star-in-new-broadway-musical-of-the-addams-family/496167/19 "2009-05-13T04:29:32Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > what about lurch? how tall will he be? He’s played by [Zachary James](http://www.classicalsinger.com/sites/index.php?user_id=86541), and while I’m not sure of his exact height, Steve Martin is between 5’11/6’0 and [this is the two of them together](http://www.idsnews.com/blogs/weekendwatchers/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/30-rock-gavin-copy.jpg). (Keep in mind he probably looks taller because of the camera angle, but even so he towers over him.) ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2009, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth-to-star-in-new-broadway-musical-of-the-addams-family/496167/20 "2009-05-14T00:20:07Z")
way, way, way, too cute to be lurch. i’m sure there will be quite the makeup magic. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nathan-lane-bebe-neuwirth-to-star-in-new-broadway-musical-of-the-addams-family/496167.md?page=2)