The comic strip The Addams Family comes to life with Fleetwood Community Theatre on July 23 on the stage at Fleetwood High School.
The Addamses are a satirical inversion of the ideal American family; an eccentric, wealthy clan who delight in the macabre and are unaware, or do not care, that other people find them bizarre or frightening. They originally appeared as an unrelated group of 150 single-panel cartoons, about half of which were originally published in The New Yorker between their debut in 1938 and Charles Addams’ death in 1988. They have since been adapted to other media, including a live and an animated television series, films, video games, and a musical.
Although most of the humor derives from the fact that they share morbid interests, the Addamses are not typically evil. They are a close-knit extended family. Morticia is an exemplary mother, and she and Gomez remain passionate towards each other. The parents are supportive of their children. The family is friendly and hospitable to visitors, despite the visitors’ horror at the Addams’s peculiar lifestyle.
This new musical comedy is created by Jersey Boys authors Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice and Drama Desk Award winner Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party). 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.
Fleetwood’s production is directed by Daniel Petrovich from Macungie. Petrovich studied theatre and directing at West Virginia University. His directing credits include regional and dinner theatre productions of Gypsy, Barefoot in the Park, and Blithe Spirit, as well as FCT’s successful production of Peter Pan in 2014. Music direction is lead by Jarrod Miller of Mt. Penn and choreography from Megan Cusano of Mt. Penn.
The cast is comprised of actors from all over Berks and Lehigh counties.
Benjamin Ruth returns to FCT as Gomez Addams. Ruth, from Allentown, played the sinister Captain Hook in last year’s production of Peter Pan.
The dead-pan Morticia, is played by Kutztown resident Lisa Gump, who was last seen on FCT’s stage in 2009 as the Step-mother in Cinderella.
Wednesday Addams, played by Melissa Gump (Lisa’s real-life daughter), is all grown up and in love with Lucas Bienke.
Zachary Goodrich, a West Chester University Theater Student and a Bethlehem resident, plays the smitten Lucas.
Rounding out the family is Jeffrey Jones of Kutztowm as Uncle Fester; Allison Morales of Allentown as the witty and sharp-tongued Grandma; Stephen Miller of Blandon is Pugsley; David Hornberger of Wernersville is the imposing Lurch.
Lucas brings his parents, Mal and Alice Beineke, over for dinner so the families can meet. Playing the nervous, rhyming Alice is Becka Malanios of Birdsboro and her straight-laced husband is Jeff Maynard of Fleetwood.
All the Addamses (living, dead, and undecided) are on stage until someone falls in love. The Ancestors come back from their graves and add all the spooky throughout the performance. Lauren Boyer, Michael Catanzaro, Cailtlin Cavallomagno, Ashley Franhouser, Darice Hoffmann, Jessie Hornberger, Laura Jones, Erin Maynard, Sara Moyer, and Stacey Ziegler, play the zombie like ancestors in FCT’s production.
Fleetwood Community Theatre is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) volunteer organization of theatre lovers currently in their 28th season. FCT is committed to the education and development of their membership within the theatre arts program by offering opportunities to all ages both on-stage and behind the scenes. As an outlet of quality musical, dramatic and ensemble productions, it encourages and supports local youth to pursue performing arts opportunities through school, church, collegiate or other local productions.
The Addams Family is performed one weekend only at the Fleetwood Area High School Auditorium, 803 N. Richmond St., Fleetwood. Four performances are scheduled: evening performances on Thursday, July 23, Friday July 24 and Saturday July 25 at 7:30 p.m. as well as a Saturday matinee performance at 2 p.m. All seats are $15 for show. Tickets can be pre-purchased online at http://fctTheAddamsFamily.bpt.me or by calling Fleetwood Community Theatre at 484-637-7067.
