CURWENSVILLE – Almost 80 years ago, a young man by the name of Charles Addams began submitting cartoons to The New Yorker magazine.
The characters in many of those cartoons evolved into the Addams’, an eccentric wealthy family who delight in the gruesome and are unaware that other people find them bizarre or frightening.
Those who grew up watching The Addams Family television show in the 1960’s have fond memories of the quirky characters created by Charles Addams. Since then they have appeared in films, cartoons and finally a Broadway musical.
The Addams Family is a musical comedy for the whole family, which is being performed by the students at Curwensville Area High School on April 7, 8, and 9.
Written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice with Tony-nominated music and lyrics composed by Andrew Lippa, it will reintroduce audience members to their favorite characters including Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Wednesday, Pugsley, Grandma, and, of course, Lurch.
While based on familiar characters, The Addams Family musical features an original story and it’s every father’s nightmare.
Wednesday Addams (Rylee Young), the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with Lucas Beineke (Adam Rhine), a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family.
And if that weren’t upsetting enough, she confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams (Noah Stephens) must do something he’s never done before – keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia (Abrielle Clark).
Eventually, a dinner is hosted at the family’s mansion for Lucas and his parents, Mal and Alice Beineke (Seth Sloppy and Teghan Jacobson). Wednesday and Lucas instruct their families to act “normal” so they can all enjoy a simple dinner, but the moment Lurch (Brennen McCracken) ushers the Beinekes into the mansion, tensions begin to mount.
Not surprisingly, Uncle Fester (Devin Wilson), Pugsley (Michael Daniel) and Grandma (Madison Bumbarger) fail at acting normal, and chaos engulfs both families after Wednesday and Lucas announce their plans to be married.
You can come meet the family as Curwensville Area High School presents The Addams Family at 7:30 p.m. on April 7, 8, and 9. For ticket information, call the high school office at 814-236-1100.