If you enjoy a clever mix of the macabre and the hilarious, you won’t want to miss the
Community Players of Concord production of “The Addams Family Musical,” to be presented on November 21-23 at the Concord City Auditorium.
With music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, the musical is based upon the characters of The New Yorker one-panel comics by Charles Addams (1938-1988). The characters were more fully realized and popularized on The Adams Family television sitcom (1964-65). The much-loved characters have since had remarkable longevity, starring in three live action films in the 90’s (“The Addams Family,” “Addams Family Values” and “Addams Family Reunion”), numerous animated movies and television series and the wildly popular new streaming television series, “Wednesday.” The ghoulishly funny musical version to be presented by the Players was first produced on Broadway in 2010, starring Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth. The show has since become an audience favorite, with widespread international tours and numerous regional and community theatre productions.
The show is directed by Betsey Cox-Buteau, who is returning to the Community Players after previously directing Players’ productions of “Annie Warbucks,” “Cinderella” and “The Secret Garden,” for which she was nominated for NH Theatre Awards Best Director and Best Set Design Awards.
“The Addams Family Musical is a truly enjoyable theatrical experience,” said Cox-Buteau. “It has everything from great characters, to lively music and dance, to a story of two families coming together to overcome their differences to support two young people in love. From torture in the “playroom” to rats and spiders showing up in odd places, The Addams Family Musical has all the goofiness of the Addams Family we all know and love. Since 1938 when Charles Addams published his first comic panel introducing the Addams Family, we all have enjoyed their wacky sense of “normal” and the conundrums they find themselves in for it. Come and enjoy a great night of theater and watch how they get in and out of their latest predicament.”
Cox-Buteau is joined on this production by Musical Director, Michael Shaw and Choreographer, Allyson Thorpe (Bye, Bye Birdie). The Addams Family Musical features a talented cast of Players veterans and newcomers. Gomez will be portrayed by Christopher Graham, an experienced actor, who recently relocated from LA. Morticia will be played by Nora McBurnett (Murder on the Orient Express, Sweet Charity), Wednesday by Annie Lelio (Bye, Bye Birdie, The Sound of Music), Pugsley by Emmett Smith (Bye, Bye Birdie, Charlotte’s Web), Fester by Ben Hunton and Grandma by Danielle Martin. Costumes will be designed by Emily Nelson, Make-up by Chris Graham, Rachel Sargent and Gregory Stuart, lighting and special effects by Douglas Schwarz. Set construction will be spearheaded by Rick Silverberg.
“The Addams Family Musical” will be performed Friday, November 21 and Saturday, November 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 23 at 2:00 p.m. at Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince Street, Concord. Tickets for adults are $22, $20 for juniors/seniors and $18 when purchased as part of a two or three show subscription. Tickets may be purchased online at communityplayersofconcord.org. The theatre box office is open 90 minutes before each performance. Subscriptions may be ordered online or by downloading the mail-in order form on the website.
Merrimack County Savings Banks is the presenting sponsor for the Community Players’ 98th season, which will also include the Players’ February production of Ms. Holmes & Ms. Watson – Apt. 2B and our May production of To Kill a Mockingbird. The Addams Family Musical is sponsored by Zero Waste and Recycling Services Inc.