Illinois State University is about to have an exceptional visit just in time for “spooky season.” The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy—produced by the School of Theatre and Dance and directed by faculty members Maggie Marlin-Hess and Dr. Matthew Vala—brings one of the most beloved families in pop culture to the Center for the Performing Arts.
Based on the famous comic series created by Charles Addams and its many adaptations, the musical first opened on Broadway in 2010 and is written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice (Jersey Boys), with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa (You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown). In this original story, Wednesday Addams experiences the joy and challenges of first love as she also navigates tensions within her eccentric family, including the fading trust between her parents Morticia and Gomez. When the Addamses invite Wednesday’s boyfriend, Lucas, and his wealthy family to dinner, things are set to go terribly wrong—or perhaps terribly right.
According to Vala, The Addams Family was the perfect choice for the School of Theatre and Dance mainstage season because it embodies themes of family bonds and personal growth through change, while also adding a great dose of humor. “Each audience member is coming into the theatre with a different knowledge of the Addams Family—whether it is from the comics, movies, or the most recent Netflix series,” Vala notes. “Maggie and I have tried to create this world that pays homage to the Addamses while welcoming the audience into a world slightly tilted on its head. We are excited to introduce our musical theatre majors to the Bloomington-Normal area and look forward to continue providing musical presentations with these talented artists.”
Besides elaborate costumes and a set that re-creates the Addams family mansion, audiences will also experience an interactive dramaturgy display in the lobby that revisits different iterations of the characters through the decades, while also bringing awareness to Hispanic and Latinx cultural heritage in the show’s historical background. The show’s dramaturgs, Gustavo Nery and Markos Carmona, write in the program note that “underneath all the comedy and great tunes, this show is a tale of a family descended from immigrants, who choose to put differences aside and find happiness in family support and trust.”
A perfect program for the Halloween season, The Addams Family also welcomes families for the celebration of Día de Los Muertos, with special performances happening on November 1-2. Be sure to reserve a seat for yourself—and one for your ancestors too!
The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy will be performed at the Center for the Performing Arts Theatre on October 27-28 and November 1-4 at 7:30 p.m. as well as on October 29 and November 5 at 2 p.m. The performance run time is approximately two hours, with one 15-minute intermission.
Tickets can be purchased in person at the Center for the Performing Arts Box Office on the campus of Illinois State University, by calling (309) 438-2535, or on the box office website.
If you need accommodations to fully participate in this program, please contact the Center for the Performing Arts Box Office at (309) 438-2535. Please allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.
