The Addams Family: A New Musical

The University of Idaho Department of Theatre Arts presents “The Addams Family: A New Musical.” There will be seven shows, starting with a preview night at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, at the Hartung Theatre, 625 Stadium Drive, Moscow.

“The Addams Family,” a comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every 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 wasn’t upsetting enough, Wednesday 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.

Craig A. Miller, director of “The Addams Family” and a U of I Theatre faculty member who recently performed in “Every Brilliant Thing,” said this production strikes a balance of honoring the iconic characters and creating new interpretations. 

“So much about these characters is so iconic, you really do have to balance what has come to pass with any new interpretations that we might want to bring to life in telling of this version of the Addams Family story,” Miller said. “I think our production strikes the right amount of iconography and new, so they will clearly recognize their favorite Addams characters, but with a fun and creative flare.”

Kari Wilsey, a senior Theatre Arts BFA student, said she is striving to play the character of Morticia in her own unique way.

“She is such an iconic figure, and I have had a lot of fun crafting my version of her,” Wilsey said. “No one is ever going to play the same Morticia, and I want to bring all of the qualities that will make my Morticia unique and worthwhile.”

While Wilsey has acted in numerous shows in the department, including “Amelie,” “Go Dog, Go!” and “Orlando,” first-year Cale Wilponen is acting in his first U of I Theatre Department production as Pugsley Addams.

“Through this process, I have been able to learn a lot about this theatre department’s processes and also the processes of professional theatre,” Wilponen said. “I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity to be able to get this experience with the U of I Theatre Department, and I hope to be able to continue throughout my next four years.”

In addition to the nightly magic “The Addams Family” will create for audiences, the department is hosting a special Halloween event during the 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31, performance.
“As a special addition to ‘The Addams Family’ experience, if audiences come to the Halloween night performance, there will be pre-show trick-or-treating in the lobby with some fun characters and a costume contest on stage at intermission with amazing prizes,” Miller said. “Best of all, everyone will get to meet and have photos with ‘The Addams Family’ cast of characters — in full costume — in the lobby after the performance.”

“The Addams Family: A New Musical” is full of wacky fun for the whole family.

“My hope is that audiences walking out of The Addams Family will be saying to themselves, ‘Normal?! What does that even mean?’” Miller said.