One of America’s most iconic families took the stage at Andrean High School on Friday, as the Andrean Theatre Company opened “The Addams Family,” their spring musical. The comedy depicts the famously ghoulish family encountering a predicament – a teenage Wednesday Addams falling in love with an astoundingly normal young man.
The production is one of the biggest in Andrean Theatre Company’s history, with an elaborate set, a large cast, and a large variety of songs and choreography, though it was not director Joseph Konkle’s original choice.
“I initially thought we were going to do ‘Mama Mia,’ but as I was reading through it I just didn’t feel anything for it, and as a director, you need to have passion for whatever you’re going to do,” he said. “So I thought, you know what, I did ‘The Addams Family’ when I was in high school and I really loved the show, and thought the students I have would do a wonderful job with it – I thought it’d be perfect for them.”
One of those students is senior Zoe Irving, who plays Morticia Addams. Irving had long been a fan of the Addams’ family’s matriarch and was thrilled to fill the role.
“When we found out that we were doing this show, I did everything I could to watch everything that had to do with the Addams Family, the old show from the 60s, the movies from the 80s and 90s, and the new cartoon movies that came out,” she said. “I’ve just always loved the Addams Family, and it was great to learn more and dive into the character. Morticia is someone who was really cool to me growing up, she was peak femininity and attractiveness. There was something beautiful about how she’s so dark and macabre.”
It will be Irving’s final performance at Andrean, but she is planning to continue her career in theatre at Illinois State University as she studies Theatre Teacher Education. She’s learned a lot over her four years with Andrean Theatre Company – where things haven’t always been easy.
“It’s struggled, I’ve had three different directors over the past four years and we struggled financially because we’re a private institution,” she said. “So the biggest thing for me is learning to get over those difficulties and improvise as you go along, having fun and learning with this family that you’ve built a relationship with. Embracing that Andrean Theatre magic, where even if everything seems like it’s going wrong, somehow it all comes together and looks amazing on opening night.”
Avery Thomas, meanwhile, is a freshman starring as Malcom Beineke, the father of Wednesday’s boyfriend, in his first production.
“I was a little nervous joining because when I came into theatre I was thinking about that stigma of ‘theatre kids,’” he said. “And the reality wasn’t like that. Everybody is cool, it was a really easy transition. During the first rehearsals, singing in front of people, I was a little nervous. But with such cool people, I got used to it after a while.”
Thomas noted that the road to opening night was not an easy one. In the early days of the production they dealt with COVID, bad weather, and other issues that created road bumps – but he’s excited to showcase what he believes is a fantastic final result.
“Coming to where we are now, It’s come together pretty good,” he said. “The relationships between the characters, the Ancestors who have the most amazing costumes. I think it’s going to be really great.”
Andrean Theatre Company’s “The Addams Family” runs until May 1, with showings on April 30th and 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., as well as May 1 at 2:30 p.m. Buy tickets and learn more about the show, cast, and crew at https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/andrean-theatre-co.