THE ADDAMS FAMILY - The Musical Brings Humorous Family to Life

THE ADDAMS FAMILY - A New Comedic Musical will be presented by the Montville Township High School Theatre Company on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 5, 6 and 7 at 7:30 p.m. A matinee will also be presented on Sunday, March 8 at 2:00 p.m. All performances will be held at MTHS, 100 Horseneck Road in Montville, New Jersey.

The up-coming spring musical production features over forty Montville Township Public Schools students, including two fifth grade performers: Noah Israel, from Valley View Elementary School, and Brian Melzer, from William Mason Elementary. The two young performers will alternate the role of Pugsley.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY - A New Comedic Musical is based on characters by cartoonist Charles Addams. The Addams Family is a delightful and classic fictional American family with a deep appreciation of the ghoulish and macabre. THE ADDAMS FAMILY - A New Comedic Musical is the first musical comedy to depict these beloved characters in a live stage production. The award-winning musical features music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice.

According to MTHS senior Matthew Krase, this Tony-Award© nominated Broadway show is a “deceptively meaningful musical.”

Krase portrays Lucas Beineke, Wednesday Addams’ 18-year-old love interest, in this delightful production.

“It’s a family comedy with something for everyone,” Krase said. “It’s about family and growing up.”

“The audience will not expect the depth of emotion,” said senior Jadyn Silverberg.

Silverberg, who plays Wednesday Addams added, “This musical is very special to a lot of us in the cast, because it is about growing up, going to college, relationships; it is about what we and our families are going through right now.”

Cast members enthusiastically agreed, with Krase and Silverberg’s description of the fast-paced musical comedy, noting that THE ADDAMS FAMILY is a wildly funny musical with a lot of heart.

“Our audience will relate to the special moments the Addams family experiences,” Gabriella Casiano said, “It’s a dark, yet sweet, comedy -- and there is A LOT of comedy. And you realize while you are watching it: ‘Wow, I’m going through that.’”

Casiano, a senior, will perform the iconic role of Morticia Addams.

“We’re really excited to have an audience see it and share it with us,” she said.

In addition to Israel, Melzer, Krase, Sliverberg and Casiano, the cast includes: Valerie Amado, Joleen Amer, Pooja Balakrishnan, Maddie Bustamante, Connor Byrne, Ben Case, Isabella Catto, Riley Chertcoff, Josh Choc, Joey Cinque Jaime Crohn, Jax DalBon, Ariana Diaz, Santina DiBenedetto, Isabelle Duddie, Jeffrey Gallup, Emily Gazzillo, Abby Garcia, Michelle Georgescu, Kenna Heim, Jack Iaci, Julia Kehr, Raelle Lamela, Nina Lewin, David Miloseski, Jake Polachek, Anna Rehberg, Abby Seewald, Adyna Silverberg, Griffin Smolar, Evan Testa and Emma Zwickel.

Once again the outstanding MTHS creative team of Scott Baird and Kristen Markowski will serve as producers and directors of the MTHS Drama Club’s spring musical. Baird, Director and Executive Producer, and Markowski, Vocal Director, Assistant Director and Producer, produced last spring’s mega-hit ANYTHING GOES. Both serve as Drama Club/MTHS Theatre Company advisors. They produce and direct four to five theatrical events at MTHS annually.

Also on board are: Choreographer, Caitlin Camuccio; Musical Director, Andrew Havington; Scenic Designer, Brandon Frumolt; Costume Designer Maryanne Hannon; Lighting Designer Kevin Ohlweiler; Art Director Eileen Racioppi; Production Stage Manager, Pam Wilczynski; Student Stage Managers Jodi Justnes and Jesse Youngstein and Asst. Student Director Lexie Burns.

For senior Jeffrey Gallup, who plays Gomez Addams, the MTHS Theatre Company’s spring production of THE ADDAMS FAMILY - A New Comedic Musical is bittersweet. The seasoned MTHS performer has appeared in all four spring musicals during his high school career. In fifth grade he also appeared in the MTHS production of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG.

“Personally, this is very meaningful,” Gallup said. “I learned so much about performing when I was in 5th grade and I was a part of the MTHS spring musical. I am still in touch with some of that cast. They passed a lot of knowledge on to me. Now, as a senior, this cast includes 5th graders, and we have an opportunity to pass knowledge on too. It is a great feeling. As seniors, this is our last year, but it is great to know the legacy continues.”

THE ADDAMS FAMILY - A New Comedic Musical will be performed in the Dr. Robert O. Stafford Auditorium at MTHS, 100 Horseneck Road, Montville, New Jersey. The production runs for four performances only. Tickets to this fun family production are only $15 for adults and $12 for students and senior citizens. Show times are on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 5, 6 and 7 at 7:30 p.m. A matinee will also be presented on Sunday, March 8 at 2:00 p.m. There will be General Seating at all performances. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at: http://mthsnj.booktix.com/ .