Pittsburgh CLO Presents THE ADDAMS FAMILY, Now thru 8/12

The national tour of The Addams Family, a new musical based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, will make its Pennsylvania premiere in Pittsburgh tonight, July 31 and play through Sunday, August 12, 2012, at the Benedum Center as part of the Pittsburgh CLO summer season and PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh 2011-12 series.

Tony Award nominee Douglas Sills and Sara Gettelfinger will star as Gomez and Morticia in a principal cast that also includes Tony Awardâ nominee Martin Vidnovic as Mal Beineke, Gaelen Gilliland as Alice Beineke, Blake Hammond as Uncle Fester, Pippa Pearthree as Grandma, Tom Corbeil as Lurch, Patrick D. Kennedy as Pugsley, Brian Justin Crum as Lucas Beineke and Cortney Wolfson as Wednesday.

Portraying the ancestors are Ted Ely, Karla Puno Garcia, Steve Geary, Victoria Huston-Elem, Patrick Oliver Jones, Lizzie Klemperer, Alexandra Matteo, Pilar Millhollen,Christy Morton, Brad Nacht, Jonathan Ritter, Roland Rusinek, Geo Seery, Samantha Shafer and Ethan Wexler.

Pittsburgh CLO and The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust are among the co-producers of the new musical which premiered on Broadway in April 2010. Pittsburgh CLO and the Cultural Trust’s involvement began with the joint role as founding members of Five Cent Productions, a producing partner in Elephant Eye Theatrical, the exciting new theatrical-development-and-Production Company formed in 2006 to create new musicals for Broadway.

The Addams Family is part of both Pittsburgh CLO’s 2012 summer subscription season and the PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh 2011/2012 subscription season. To subscribe to the PNC Broadway series, call 412-456-1390 or visit www.TrustArts.org/broadway. For Pittsburgh CLO subscription information call 412-281-2822or visit www.pittsburghCLO.org. For individual tickets ($22 - $71) and information: call 412-456-6666, visit: www.TrustArts.org, or in person, the Box Office at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue. The PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh series is a presentation of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony and Broadway Across America.

The Addams Family features an original story and it's every father’s nightmare. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family. A man her parents have never met. And if that weren't upsetting enough, she confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he's never done before - keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday's "normal" boyfriend and his parents.

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 production supervision by Jerry Zaksand choreography by Sergio Trujillo.

The productionfeatures lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by ACME Sound Partners and puppetry by Basil Twist. The production also features music supervision by Mary-Mitchell Campbell, music direction by Valerie Gebert, orchestrations by Larry Hochman, dance arrangements by August Eriksmoen, hair design by Tom Watson, make-up design by Angelina Avallone and special effects design by Greg Meeh.

In a prolific career spanning six decades, Charles Addams created several thousand cartoons, sketches and drawings, many of which were published in The New Yorker. But it was his creation of characters that came to be known as The Addams Family that brought Addams his greatest acclaim. With a unique style that combined the twisted, macabre and just plain weird with charm, wit and enchantment, Addams’ drawings have entertained millions worldwide and served as the inspiration for multiple television series and motion pictures.

The Addams Family, which began performances in March 2010 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre and ran through December 2011, immediately became one of Broadway’s biggest hits. Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune described the production as “classic, full-tilt, fast paced, old-fashioned musical comedy!” and John Simon of Bloomberg News called it “Uproarious! A glitzy-gloomy musical entirely worthy of the macabre drawings by Charles Addams.”

The Addams Family tour is produced by Stuart Oken, Roy Furman, Michael Leavitt, Five Cent Productions, Stuart Ditsky/AdamDitsky, Stephen Mary Jo Schuler, Eva Price, James L. Nederlander, Stephanie P. McClelland, Pittsburgh CLO/Gutterman/Deitch, Vivek Tiwary/Jamie deRoy/Carl Moellenberg and Mary Lu Roffe, by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical. International productions have been announced for Brazil (March, 2012) and Australia (March, 2013) with others to be announced.

CAST BIOGRAPHIES

Douglas Sills (Gomez Addams) received Tony and Drama Desk nominations as well as the Los Angeles Ovation Award for his performance as The Scarlet Pimpernel on Broadway and on tour. He recently starred in the Chicago tryout of the new rock musicAl White Noise.AdditionalBroadway: Little Shop of Horrors. National Tours: The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Secret Garden, Into the Woods.New York: Music in the Air, Carnival (Encores),On the 20th Century, Moonlight & Magnolias (MTC), Disney’s When You Wish. Regional: She Loves Me, Peter Pan, A Little Night Music, Much Ado About Nothing,She Stoops To Folly, Showboat, Mack & Mabel, The Philadelphia Story, Chess, Summer People, Mrs. Warren's Profession and many leading roles with California Shakespeare Festival. Recordings: The Scarlet Pimpernel, Cyrano. Television: PBS with the Boston Pops, CSI, The Closer, Numb3rs, Will & Grace, Any Day Now, Party Of Five, Sabrina, Murphy Brown. Film: Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo, Funny About Love. In addition to Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations, Douglas has been honored in New York with The Theater World, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Awards. In Los Angeles he has received The Garland, The Dramalogue, and Robby awards. Mr. Sills is a founding member of The Antaeus Company and studied at The University of Michigan and The American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.

Sara Gettelfinger (Morticia Addams) most recently appeared as “Dona Athene” in John Guare's A Free Man of Color at Lincoln Center. Broadway:Seussical the Musical, The Boys from Syracuse,“Carla”in Nine with Antonio Banderas, “Jolene Oakes” inDirty Rotten Scoundrels oppositeJohn Lithgow,as well as the first national tours ofFosse and101 Dalmatians as“Cruella De Vil.”Other NYC area credits include:“April” inCompany (Helen Hayes),“Fastrada” inPippin (Papermill Playhouse),Tenderloin and Carnival at City Center Encores!,Anything Goes at Lincoln Centerand“Little Edie Beale”in the world premier of Grey Gardensat Playwrights Horizons.In 2009, Sara starred as“Fastrada” in the Deaf West production of Pippinat L.A.'s Mark Taper Forum. Television:Guiding Light, Ed,Without a Trace.Film:10 to Midnight, Sex In the City, Forbidden Love. In 2006 Sara was signed to DECCA/Universal Records with the classical-crossover trio Three Graces. Their self-titled, debut album was released in stores/online in March 2008, reaching the top 10 on the Billboard Crossover Charts, followed by a worldwide, critically acclaimed concert tour.

Martin Vidnovic (Mal Beineke). Broadway credits include Brigadoon(Tony nomination), Baby (Drama Desk Award), Oklahoma!(L.A. Drama Critic’s Award), A Grand Night For Singing (Backstage Bistro Award), The King And I (Lun Tha) and Home Sweet Homer (Antinuous) both starring Yul Brynner, Guys And Dolls (Sky), King David (Saul), Olympus On My Mind (Jupiter) and Bellomy in the Off-Broadway revival of The Fantasticks.

Gaelen Gilliland (Alice Beineke). A Pittsburgh native, Gaelen is excited to be a part of the family!! Broadway credits: Wicked (Mdm. Morrible u/s), Legally Blonde (Mom/Whitney/Courtney & Paulette/Vivien u/s) Original Broadway Cast, 9 to 5 (Judy/Doralee u/s) Original Broadway Cast. Regional theatre credits: Beauty & the Beast (Mdm. de la Grande Bouche) MUNY theatre of St. Louis, Legally Blonde (Paulette) North Shore Music Theatre (IRNE nomination), Guys & Dolls (Adelaide) Riverside Theatre Vero Beach, FL, Hairspray (Velma Von Tussle) Houston TUTS. Gaelen is proud to be a part of Allegiance the new American musical which is Broadway-bound in 2013. For more: GaelenGilliland.com

Blake Hammond (Uncle Fester) is eerily excited to be the bald member of The Addams Family. Broadway: Sister Act (Ernie), Elf (Chadwick), Billy Elliot (Braithwaite), Hairspray (Edna), The Lion King (Pumbaa), The Music Man (Quartet), Kiss Me Kate (u/s Gangster), On the Town (Uperman/MC). Off-Broadway: 6, most notably the Drama Desk- and Obie-winning When Pigs Fly. National Tours: 5. His many film/TV credits include the recent films Handsome Harry and An Englishman in New York and a current webseries about four couples in group therapy at ThenWeGotHelp.com. Blake has received the L.A. Critics, Carbonell and Chicago After Dark Awards.

Pippa Pearthree (Grandma). Broadway: Boeing Boeing, The History Boys, Frozen, Titanic, Taking Steps, Whose Life Is It Anyway. Off-Broadway: The Dining Room, Hamlet, Aunt Dan and Lemon (Public), American Days, The Singular Life of Albert Nobbs, The Miss Firecracker Contest (MTC). Film: Village of the Damned, The Hurricane, Mrs. Soffel and Taking Woodstock. TV: Law & Order, Bored to Death and NBC series Buffalo Bill.

Tom Corbeil (Lurch) performs regularly with opera companies across North America. Credits include: Don Giovanni (Leporello), La Bohème (Colline), The Barber of Seville (Don Basilio), Death in Venice (English Clerk), Moses in Egypt (Pharaoh), Alceste (Oracle, Infernal God), The Desert Island (Enrico), Tosca (Angelotti), The Hotel Casablanca (Tom Carter). Mr. Corbeil has received Metropolitan Opera National Council and Liederkranz Foundation awards; he trained in the studios at Florida Grand Opera, Santa Fe Opera and the Merola Program at San Francisco Opera. Many thanks and much love to family and friends for their undying support on this adventure!

Patrick D. Kennedy (Pugsley Addams), 12 years old and a student at WPCA in Cleveland, is excited to be part of The Addams Family’s first national tour! During his free time, he enjoys playing basketball and, like Pugsley, annoying his three sisters. His first role was playing Gavroche in a high school production of Les Misérables, after which he was hooked on musical theater. Regional: Oliver! (Artful Dodger), Mame (Patrick), Bye Bye Birdie (Randolf), The Secret Garden (Colin). Patrick would like to thank the cast and crew, Aunt Mary for being his “Mame,” Lynnette (voice teacher) and love to his family!

Brian Justin Crum (Lucas Beineke). Broadway: 2010 Pulitzer Prize-winning Next to Normal (Gabe/Henry), Grease (Danny/Teen Angel), Wicked. 1st National Tours: Grease (Doody), Wicked, Altar Boyz (Mark). He recently played the title role in Disney's Tarzan at North Shore Music Theatre. Other: Jesus Christ Superstar (Simon), Hot Mikado (Pish Tush). Brian was seen on Law & Order: SVU as Daniel Brooks in the episode "Possessed." Thanks to Nicolosi & Co., ITM/Jen Namoff, Mom, SP and CM for everything.

Cortney Wolfson (Wednesday Addams) comes to us straight from the Broadway production of The Addams Family (u/s Wednesday Addams). Other Broadway/tour credits include the Les Misérables revival (u/s Eponine) and Legally Blonde: The Musical 1st national tour (Serena, Brooke Wyndham). NYC workshops/readings: The Addams Family, Up Here (dir. Alex Timbers), Kinky Boots (dir. Jerry Mitchell). Other Favorites: April in Pool Boy (Barrington Stage Company), The St. Louis Muny, The Battery's Down (web series). Indiana Native and proud graduate of The University of Michigan. Thanks to Mom, Madama, Vallier, Abrams, and God. For more, visit www.cortneywolfson.com.

CREATIVE TEAM BIOGRAPHIES

Charles Addams (Creator/Cartoonist). Born in Westfield, NJ in 1912, Charles Samuel Addams’ prodigal artistic talent led him to become one of America’s most beloved cartoonists. In 1933, at just 21 years of age, The New Yorker first published his work. Addams went on to become one of that magazine’s marquee contributors until his death in 1988. His body of work spans almost 60 years of output and is estimated to contain several thousand works. More than 15 books of his drawings have been published so far, appearing in many languages across the globe. Addams’ works appear in a number of prestigious Permanent Collections including The New York Public Library, The Museum of the City of New York and The Library of Congress. www.addamsfoundation.org

Marshall Brickman (Book). Film (as co-author): Sleeper, Annie Hall (Academy Award), Manhattan (Academy Award nomination),Manhattan Murder Mystery; (as writer/director): Simon, Lovesick, The Manhattan Project, Sister Mary Explains It All. Television: “The Johnny Carson Show" (head writer), “The Dick Cavett Show” (head writer & producer). His first venture into musical theater, Jersey Boys, won an Olivier and four Tony Awards including Best Musical. In addition to his film, theater and television work, Mr. Brickman has been published in The New York Times, The New Yorker,Playboy, and other periodicals and is the 2006 recipient of the Writers’ Guild of America Ian McClellan Hunter Award for lifetime achievement in writing. He lives and works in New York and hopes to die in his bed, surrounded by his loving family and their attorneys.

Rick Elice(Book) co-wrote Jersey Boys (2006 Tony Award and 2009 Olivier Award for Best Musical) with Marshall Brickman. From 1982-1999, as creative director at Serino Coyne Inc., he produced ad campaigns for some 300 Broadway shows, from A Chorus Line to The Lion King.From 1999-2009, he served as creative consultant for The Walt Disney Studios. MFA, Yale Drama School; Teaching Fellow, Harvard University; charter member, American Repertory Theatre.

Andrew Lippa (Music and Lyrics). Broadway: The Addams Family (Tony nomination, two Drama Desk nominations);Aaron Sorkin’s The Farnsworth Invention; new songs forYou’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. Off Broadway: The Wild Party (book/music/lyrics) Manhattan Theater Club (Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk Award); john & jen (music/book). Regional: A Little Princess (music); Asphalt Beach (music/lyrics). Recordings: A Little Princess, The Addams Family, john & jen, …Charlie Brown (Grammy nomination), Julia Murney’s I’m Not Waiting. Concert: Music Director for Kristin Chenoweth at The Metropolitan Opera House, Carnegie Hall, Chicago, St. Louis, San Francisco Symphony Orchestras and others. TV: The Wonder Pets. Next: Big Fish (book by John August) directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman.

Phelim McDermott (Director and Designer) has been directing and performing since 1984. His initial shows include: Cupboard Man (Fringe First Award), Gaudete (Time Out Director's Award), The Vinegar Works and The Sweet Shop Owner. He co-directed Shockheaded Peter in the West End and Off-Broadway, winning an Olivier Award. His company Improbable's award-winning shows include: 70 Hill Lane, Lifegame, Spirit, Theatre of Blood and Philip
Glass' Satyagraha at the English National Opera. With Julian Crouch, he directed the Metropolitan Opera's 125th Anniversary Gala. Improbable were recently awarded the Total Theatre Significant Contribution Award for their work in theatre including their Open Space events “Devoted & Disgruntled: What are we going to do about theatre?” Phelim improvises with The Comedy Store Players and is an honorary Doctor of Middlesex University.

Julian Crouch (Director and Designer). With Phelim McDermott, he recently designed and associate directed Philip Glass' Satyagraha, in collaboration with the English National Opera and the Met, as well as the Met’s 125th Anniversary Gala. As co-founder of London’s Improbable Theatre with McDermott, the two collaborated on the international sensation Shockheaded Peter. Other Improbable productions include Animo,70 Hill Lane,Lifegame,Coma,Spirit,Sticky, Cinderella,The Hanging Man, and The Wolves in the Walls. Designs include Dr. Faustus,Improbable Tales,The Servant of Two Masters, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the multi award-winning Jerry Springer- The Opera, A Funny Thing Happened … Forum for The National Theatre and Dr. Atomic at the Met.

Jerry Zaks(Creative Consultation) is currently represented on Broadway by Sister Act. Mr. Zaks has directed more than 30 productions in New York. He has received four Tony Awards and been nominated seven times. He's also received four Drama Desks, two Outer Critics Circle Awards, and an Obie. His credits include Guys and Dolls, Six Degrees of Separation, Lend Me a Tenor, House of Blue Leaves, The Addams Family, The Front Page, A Funny Thing…Forum, Smokey Joe’s Café, Anything Goes, La Cage aux Folles, Little Shop of Horrors, The Man Who Came to Dinner, The Foreigner, A Bronx Tale, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, and the original production of Assassins. He began his career directing the extraordinary plays of Christopher Durang including Sister Mary Ignatius..., Beyond Therapy, Baby with the Bath Water, and The Marriage of Bette and Boo. He directed the award-winning film Marvin’s Room, starring Meryl Streep and Diane Keaton; and Who Do You Love, which was featured in the Toronto Film Festival. Mr. Zaks is a founding member, and serves on the board, of the Ensemble Studio Theater. He received the SDC’s George Abbott Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre and an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Dartmouth, his alma mater.

Sergio Trujillo (Choreographer). Broadway: Choreographed the 2010 Tony Award winning Best Musical Memphis (OCC Award, Astaire and Drama Desk Award Noms.); 2006 Tony and Olivier Award winning Best Musical Jersey Boys (Olivier, Drama Desk, Dora, OCC Award Noms.); The Addams Family; 2010 Pulitzer Prize winning Next to Normal; All Shook Up and Guys and Dolls (Astaire Award nom.). Off-Broadway: Saved (Playwrights Horizon, Lucille Lortel Nom.); The Capeman, Romeo & Juliet (Public); A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Kismet (Encores!); Salome (NYC Opera). Regional: White Noise (director/choreographer), The Wiz, Zhivago (La Jolla); Mambo Kings; The Marriage of Figaro (L.A. Opera); Chita and All That Jazz. International: Disney’s Tarzan (World Theatre Award Nom); West Side Story, The Sound of Music (Stratford); Peggy Sue Got Married (West End); Kiss Me, Kate (Japan). TV: Judging and choreographing on “So You Think You Can Dance: Canada” (CTV), “Broadway: The American Musical” (PBS), “The 14th American Comedy Awards” (ABC), “Triple Sensation” (CBC). Ovation Award for Empire: A New American Musical and four Dora Award nominations in Canada. Upcoming: Director/Choregrapher: Flashdance. Havana, White Noise. Choreographer: Leap of Faith for Broadway, 1st National Tours: Memphis, Next to Normal and The Addams Family, and the 2nd national tour of Jersey Boys.