They’re creepy and they’re kooky, and soon they will be mysterious and spooky at the Temple Civic Theatre.
Yep, Uncle Fester and the gang are coming to town for a local production of The Addams Family: A Musical Comedy.
Performances run Thursday through Sunday and Oct. 26-29. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and at 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are available at templecivictheatre.com.
“Addams Family is a delightful family romp,” said TCT Artistic Director Natasha Tolleson. “We have used American designer/artist Edward Gory’s work for our design inspiration. The set is being designed by local treasure and retired Temple High and Belton High teacher Paul Blackstock, and it is incredible.”
“The show features beautiful costumes, wigs and magical makeup — the show has something for everyone,” she said. “Super acting, singing and dancing — Central Texas will not want to miss this production.”
The Addamses have lived by their unique values for hundreds of years, and Gomez and Morticia, the patriarch and matriarch of the clan, would be only too happy to continue living that way.
But, that’s not going to happen: Their dark, macabre, beloved daughter Wednesday has fallen in love with Lucas Beineke, a sweet, smart boy from a normal family. In an attempt to bring the families together, she has invited the Beinekes to the Addams home for dinner. Secrets are disclosed, relationships are tested, and the Addams family must face the one thing they’ve strived to avoid for generations: change.
The Temple Civic Theatre production features Brian Joyce in the role of Gomez, Marissa Hunt as Morticia, Hayley Cavazos as Pugsley, and Avery Ling as the dark-humored Wednesday.
Ling will be portraying Wednesday for the second time in her young career. The now 26-year-old had the role in a 2014 production of the same play at Temple High School, and that show also was under the direction of Tolleson.
“I loved playing Wednesday in high school, and I’m excited to be doing it again,” Ling said. “With the popularity of Wednesday, the Netflix TV show, we’ve made a few changes this time. The costumes have been slightly modernized, and yes, I’ll be doing part of the Goo Goo Muck dance.”
“I enjoy the dark humor Wednesday brings to the show,” she said. “She walks a thin line between typical teen emotions and creepy weirdness. She very much wants to be a teenager, but she still enjoys torturing her little brother. I think I see a little bit of myself in Wednesday.”
With the popularity of Jenna Ortega and her Netflix Wednesday, Ling said the bar for portraying the Addams teen is much higher than before the show debuted this year.
“Jenna is amazing — I love her dry, deadpan humor,” Ling said, “but I am bringing my own Wednesday style into the role. I think you have to bring your own spice and make a role yours.”
The TCT production also stars Alex Clardy as Uncle Fester, Kathy Owens as Grandma, Lee Fisk as Lurch, Dan Becker as Mal, Sherry Millican as Alice, Andrew Cloe as Lucas and Kim Torres as Cousin It.
Portraying Addams Family ancestors will be Victoria Bongat, Isabelle Smith, Maddie Clark, Alexz Martinez, Martha Satterwhite, Meagan Bolds, Catherin Iosefo, Abdallah Shuiab, Danny Martinez, Jouper Sanz Muring, Courtland Snelling and Thomas Painter.
On Nov. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Temple Civic Theatre will host its annual Fall Fest. The event features a massive rummage sale, a pumpkin path, food trucks, vendors, live entertainment, a petting zoo and a blood drive by Carter Bloodcare.
Entryto Fall Fest is free, but various activities will have an associated cost. Vendors can call 254-778-4751 for more information.
Santa returns to the TCT on Saturday, Dec. 9, to visit with local kids and pets. Photos will be available. The event begins at 10 a.m. Santa and his elves will be enjoying milk and cookies with young visitors.
