SOMETHING FUN WE CAN ALL EXHUME!
Put Some Poison In Your Day as the Morgan-Wixson Youth Theatre Dazzles in THE ADDAMS FAMILY !!
(Santa Monica, October 10, 2023) Inspired by the darkly comic genius of Charles Addams’ New Yorker cartoons and the subsequent 1960’s TV show, The ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL tangos onto the Morgan-Wixson Theatre’s Youth Educaon/Entertainment Series Mainstage in Santa Monica November 4 through 26. This wildly fun musical romp explores themes of family, relaonships, and celebrang individuality — while embracing the wackiness found in every family.
The producon features a 22-member all-youth cast, ranging in ages from 12 to 16. “A unique aspect of this producon is that we are not doing a ‘youth version’ of this show. Our enre team – especially these incredibly talented young arsts – are fully commied to telling the ‘real story’,” explained director Eve Keller. “We’re so proud of the ambious bar they’ve set and, at the same me, we are mindful of how important it is to balance their creavity with best theater pracces, which is why we brought on a professional inmacy director to consult with the teen actors. They were really recepve to this process, which helps model expectaons for them when they move on to other experiences in their arsc and educaonal lives,” she said.
THE ADDAMS FAMILY focuses on every father’s nightmare: Wednesday Addams, the seemingly most ‘normal’ member of her delighully deranged family, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family – a man her parents have never met. If that weren’t enough to test her dong, macabre father Gomez, Wednesday begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before– keep a secret from his beloved, brilliant wife Morcia, who has her own wicked, wicked ways. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s scarily “normal” boyfriend and his parents.
“I’m parcularly excited for THE ADDAMS FAMILY because of the incredible producon team, as well as the fantasc cast. I’m so excited for audiences to experience the humor, truth, and love that this show represents,” said Chase Klein (age 16), who plays Morcia. “The Morgan-Wixson has been a home to me for 3 years now because of the welcoming, loving, and close community. We have been hard at work these past months and have grown so close as a cast.”
For director Eve Keller, “I was originally drawn to the nostalgia I have for the characters and how the Addams’ world is so opposite of a typical world. I knew it would be a fun ride. However, working with these talented youth brings so much more to the experience! I have known and worked with many of them in previous shows and to watch their growth as performers is an honor. They are so dedicated to their cra and to this producon and to making it come alive in a rich way for everyone to enjoy!”
In addion to Keller as Director, Martha Thatcher serves as Music Director, Michael Marchak is Choreographer, and Cori Goldberg, Karin Klein and Evelyn Vizzi are producers. Lighng and Set design by William Wilday, Costume Design by Jill Serjeant with Inmacy Direcon by Ariella Salinas Fiore.
The cast includes: Joaquin Hosfeld as Gomez, Chase Klein as Morcia, Ellie Birdwell as Wednesday, Lily Moss as Pugsley, Maia Goldberg as Grandma, Sterling Inatsugu as Lurch, Mimi Vizzi as Alice, Rahland Keller as Mal, Charli Ausn as Lucas, Sahar Aguilar as Ancestor, Henry Anderson as Ancestor, Finnley Blaine as Pugsley U/S and Ancestor, Sarah Hajmomenian as Wednesday U/S and Ancestor, London Hartmann as Ancestor, Mia Negrete as Ancestor, Amelia Olson as Ancestor, Andy Rowles as Ancestor, Evan Simonvitz as Ancestor, Ella Temple as Morcia U/S and Ancestor, Anna Sllman as Alice U/S and Ancestor, and Aydin Washington as Ancestor.
The tech crew, stage manager, assistant stage managers as well as lights and sound operators are youth ranging in ages from 12 to 18. Monty Oxman (age 17) is the assistant to the director, Walden Sullivan (age 16) is the assistant to the musical director , and Ever Golden (age 15) is the Stage Manager.
Understudies for Morcia and Pugsley will perform 11/12 and 11/18. Understudies for Wednesday and Alice will perform 11/11 and 11/19.
