The Vanity Theatre will debut its production of the Addams Family this Friday. Playing the roles of this creepy, kooky family are: Kent Minnette (Gomez), Amy Woodall (Morticia), Heather Olin (Grandma Addams), Mary Taylor (Uncle Fester), Jesse Watson (Pugsley) and Reagan Minnette (Wednesday).
In addition to the Addams family, the musical includes a host of deceased Addams ancestors who once lived colorful lives.
When Wednesday brings her new — and quite normal — boyfriend (Dakota Baker) and his parents Mal and Alice Beineke (Preston Dildine and Lisa Kochert Warren) to dinner at the Addams’ macabre mansion, chaos and hilarity erupt.
“They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky!”
This catchy theme song haunted the childhoods of millions of Americans, whether they watched the original Addams Family episodes that aired in the 1960s or caught them over the years in syndication. The beloved story of this strange, yet endearing, family and their misadventures with “normal” people has been turned into a popular musical.
The Sugar Creek Players’ production of The Addams Family creeps onto the stage at the Vanity Theater in Crawfordsville the next two weekends, Sept. 16-19 and Sept. 23-25. Sponsored by Chase Bank, the show is directed by John P. Blair, produced by Preston Dildine, and choreographed by Lisa Kochert Warren.
The musical, based on the original cartoon characters from the 1940s rather than on the television show, centers on life with the Addams family: father Gomez (Kent Minnette), mother Morticia (Amy Woodall), Grandma Addams (Heather Olin), Uncle Fester (Mary Taylor), Pugsley (Jesse Watson) and Wednesday (Reagan Minnette). When Wednesday brings her new — and quite normal — boyfriend (Dakota Baker) and his parents Mal and Alice Beineke (Preston Dildine and Lisa Kochert Warren) to dinner at the Addams’ macabre mansion, chaos and hilarity erupt.
“This is a dream come true,” Kent Minnette said. “Coming home after school, The Addams Family was always on. The chance to try to recreate that … it’s just a thrill … a joy.”
“I recall my character as a little more of an updated, modern version of Morticia, which is part of what makes it fun,” Woodall said. “She’s got a little bit of the original character in her and a little something new.”
When asked how the characters differ from the television show, she adds, “Wednesday’s all grown up, she’s dating now and about striking out on her own, and, of course, as always happens with the Addams family, kookiness and drama ensues.”
Reagan Minnette says of her character, “The most fun part about playing Wednesday has definitely been finding her character. I would say that I am a very happy-go-lucky person. I am super positive all the time and everything’s good and happy, and she is the exact opposite. This has been fun and challenging.”
While Gomez struggles with losing his daughter and the Beinekes try to maintain their sanity, the cast delights audiences of all ages with such original songs as “When You’re an Addams” and “Crazier Than You.” And no story of the Addams would be complete without Gomez and Morticia’s trademark tango. “There are some ghosts and some spooky things going on, but still at the heart of it is the love that the family has for each other,” Woodall said, “which is what I think resonates so much — has always resonated so much — about the Addams family.”
The audience will no doubt recognize the iconic characters of Lurch, the beloved butler played by Craig Brainard, and “Thing,” the Addams’ disembodied servant played by Caleb Belt. In addition, the musical includes a host of deceased Addams ancestors who once lived colorful lives, including a caveman (Riley Woodall), a ukulele-playing flapper (Olivia Olin), the Lady of the Lake (Sarah Swick), a bride (Katie Schneider), a pilgrim (Jake Junkins), an Indian (Chase Newkirk), a gangster (Liam Weir), a cowgirl (Stefanie Case Deaton), a conquistador (Madeline Hepburn) and a saloon girl (Erica Minnette).
Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets may be purchased online at www.sugarcreekplayers.org or by leaving a message at 765-362-7077. They are also available at the box office, 122 S. Washington St., which is open from 3-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour before performances.
