Tony-Winning Director Jerry Zaks Enters The Addams Family, Exits All About Me

Tony-winning director Jerry Zaks has joined the creative team of The Addams Family, the new musical headed to Broadway this spring. Zaks will be billed as creative consultant for the show, with co-directors Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch staying onboard. Zaks will no longer serve as director of the upcoming All About Me, starring Dame Edna Everage and Michael Feinstein. Previews have been delayed four days to March 8 (rather than the previously announced March 4), with opening night scheduled for April 8 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

Zaks previously worked with The Addams Family leading man Nathan Lane on the hit musical revivals Guys and Dolls and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Lane stars as Gomez in the new musical, with Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia, Krysta Rodriguez as Wednesday, Adam Riegler as Pugsley, Kevin Chamberlin as Uncle Fester and Jackie Hoffman as Grandmama. Also featured in the cast are Carolee Carmello, Terrence Mann and Wesley Taylor.

"We are very pleased that Jerry is willing and eager to come on board at this point in the process to collaborate with our creative team to insure that the show achieves its full potential for its Broadway debut," Addams Family producer Stuart Oken said in a statement. "We're also grateful to Jeffrey Richards and the other producers of All About Me for helping to make this possible." Zaks previously served as an uncredited show doctor on The Capeman, the short-lived 1997 musical featuring a score by Paul Simon, starring Marc Anthony and originally directed and choreographed by Mark Morris.

With music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice (Jersey Boys), The Addams Family continues its pre-Broadway run in Chicago through Sunday, January 10.