The Addams Family: Brooke Shields to play Morticia

Brooke Shields is to join the cast of the Broadway musical comedy The Addams Family, playing the role of 'Morticia' from 28 Jun 2011. Shields will assume the female lead role from original cast member Bebe Neuwirth, who will play her final performance on 26 Jun 2011. Shields will play opposite Roger Rees, who stars as 'Gomez.'

"I am delighted to be joining b>The Addams Family this summer," said Shields. "When the producers asked me to come see the show a few months ago, I found it to be wonderfully entertaining, funny, clever and even touching, and I knew immediately that I wanted to be the next Morticia, following the amazing Bebe Neuwirth. I can't wait to join Roger and the wonderful cast."

Brooke Shields last appeared on Broadway in 2005 when she played 'Roxie' in Chicago. Other Broadway credits ' 'Wonderful Town' (Ruth Sherwood),'Cabaret' (Sally Bowles) and 'Grease' (Betty Rizzo). This past summer she starred with Raul Esparza in Alan Menken's 'Leap Of Faith' at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. She is currently starring in the new play 'Girls Talk' at the Lee Strasberg Theater, also in L.A. She was recently seen in her own show "In My Life" at Feinstein's at the Loews Regency, sharing stories from her journey in show business in an evening that included songs such as "100 Easy Ways to Lose a Man" and "Swing" (both from Wonderful Town), "Me and My Baby" (from Chicago), "Queen Bee" (from the Barbra Streisand version of A Star Is Born), and a rendition of "Maybe This Time" (from Cabaret). Her film work includes: "Blue Lagoon," "Endless Love" and "The Midnight Meat Train." On TV she is best known for her starring role as 'Susan Keane' in the sitcom 'Suddenly Summer."

The Addams Family now stars Roger Rees (Gomez), Bebe Neuwirth (Morticia), Adam Grupper (Mal Beineker), Heidi Blickenstaff (Alice Beineke), Brad Oscar (Uncle Fester), Jackie Hoffman (Grandmama), Zachary James (Lurch), Adam Riegler (Pugsley), Jesse Swenson (Lucas Beineke) and Rachel Potter (Wednesday).

The Addams Family opened at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on 8 Apr 2010, following previews from 8 Apr 2010 and is currently booking through to 2 Oct 2011.

The musical opened to mostly poor reviews: Ghastly (NY Times); Half-baked (NY Daily News); Watered down (NY Post); "More of a comfortable than a brilliant Broadway experience." (Newsroom Jersey).

Based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, The Addams Family features a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa. The production is directed and designed (sets and costumes) by Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch, with creative consultation by Jerry Zaks and choreography by Sergio Trujillo. Lighting design is by Natasha Katz, sound design is by Acme Sound Partners and puppetry is by Basil Twist.

Storm clouds are gathering over The Addams Family manse. Daughter Wednesday, now 18, is experiencing a sensation that surprises and disgusts her - caring about another person. Young Pugsley, jealous of his sister's attention, begs her to keep torturing him, severely, while mother Morticia, conflicted over her daughter's lurch into womanhood, fears being upstaged and discarded.... like yesterday's road kill. All the while, father Gomez - master of the revels, mischievous and oblivious as ever - would prefer everything and everyone remain as it is. But when outsiders come to dinner, the events of one night will change forever this famously macabre family - a family so very different from your own...or maybe not.

The show is produced on Broadway by Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt, Five Cent Prods., Stephen Schuler, Decca Theatricals, Scott M. Delman, Stuart Ditsky, Terry Allen Kramer, Stephanie P. McClelland, James L. Nederlander, Eva Price, Jam Theatricals/Mary Lu Roffe, Pittsburgh CLO/Gutterman-Swinsky, Vivek Tiwary/Gary Kaplan, The Weinstein Co./Clarence, LLC and Adam Zotovich/Tribe Theatricals, by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical.