THE ADDAMS FAMILY Comes to Metropolis in September

Opening the 2023 – 2024 Season at Metropolis is the ghastly fun family comedy The Addams Family: The Musical. Former Interim Artistic Director and Stella Adler Studio of Acting Director of Musical Theatre Robbie Simpson directs this macabre musical hit. Featuring original choreography by Jeni Donahue and musical direction by Jeff Award-Nominated music director Aaron Kaplan. 

The Addams Family: The Musical previews begin Thursday, September 14; opening and press night is Saturday, September 16, at 7:30 pm and runs through October 8 in the 329-seat Metropolis Theater. Tickets ($10 – $45) are available now at MetropolisArts.com or by phone at (847) 577-2121. 

A comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family.

Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has a secret that is sure to be a nightmare for her father, Gomez. She has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, intelligent young man from a respectable family! What is worse, the famously macabre family must host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his “regular” parents. What could go wrong? In this hilarious, touching, and uplifting comedy about America’s darkest family, just about everything.

This weird, wonderful concoction of nonstop fun from the writers of the Tony Award-winning Jersey Boys, Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, explores the importance of every kind of family. As the bizarrely macabre Addams clan faces the deadly task of adding new and oddly ordinary branches to their traditionally eerie family tree, they must come together with a new chosen family in a way they never would have imagined.

“The Addams Family is one of those rare creations that seems to have endless iterations and interpretations, each as enjoyable as the last,” says Artistic Director Brendan Ragan. “What this musical does so well is remind us of the importance of embracing your unique individuality. The Addams Family: The Musical makes it clear: being different is not just okay, it is the key to happiness.”

Starring Courtney San Pedro as the dark princess herself, Enzo Donoso as her suave father and Kaity Paschetto as her darkly sultry mother, Elliot Mayeda as her younger, devious brother, Josh Frink as her love-stricken Uncle Fester, Kent Joseph as shambling, gloomy Lurch, Jenny Rudnick as the family’s mysterious Grandma, Dru Loman as Wednesday’s newfound love, and Savannah Sinclair and Christopher Johnson as his all-too-normal parents, this show is packed with plenty of weird, kooky characters to love.

CHICAGO’S HISTORY WITH THE ADDAMS FAMILY: THE MUSICAL

The world premiere of The Addams Family: The Musical, in addition to the original auditions for the cast, occurred at Chicago’s own Nederlander Theatre located in the loop. These preliminary tryouts were hosted by Broadway in Chicago, and the original production was produced by Elephant Eye Theatrical and Roy Furman. Prior to opening on Broadway in April 2010, The Addams Family: The Musical played a limited engagement in Chicago through January 10, 2010. The entire Chicago cast transferred to Broadway with the show, going on to be nominated for a plethora of awards, including two Tony Awards. The production took home both the Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Set Design, as well as the 2010 Drama League Award for Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre, presented to Nathan Lane.

Producer Stuart Oken of Elephant Eye Theatrical stated of the brand new addition to the Addams Family lore, “It is an extraordinary privilege as well as a daunting responsibility being entrusted with Charles Addams’ most beloved creations, but I am confident this outstanding creative team is re-imagining the work in a way that would have made Charlie proud.” Based solely on Charles Addams’ cartoons, the production team devised the original musical. The Tee & Charles Addams Foundation insisted on the aforementioned, instead of drawing plot from any of The Addams Family television series or films. 

As The Addams Family: The Musical moved on to a national tour production, the show evolved into a modernized version of the production regarded as an undead, refreshed, Frankenstein-monster of a musical comedy with a new central plot conflict; new, revised, or reordered songs; and fresh orchestrations and dance. 

THE CREATIVE AND PRODUCTION TEAM

Book by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice

Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa

Based on Characters Created by Charles Addams

Directed by Robbie Simpson, Music Direction by Aaron Kaplan, Choreographed by Jeni Donahue, Stage Managed by Kyle Aschbrenner, Assistant Stage Managed by Alexandra Raffini, Scenic Design by Eric Luchen, Lighting Design by Sam Stephen, Sound Design by Daniel Etti-Williams, Costume Design by Emily N. Brink, Wig, Hair, and Makeup Design by Jazmin Medina, Properties Design by Patrick McGuire, Intimacy Direction by Christa Retka, Dramaturgy by T Chester, Casting Direction by Robin Hughes, Production Management by Alexis Nau, and Technical Direction by Victor Gutierrez.

ENHANCED AND ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCES

Visit MetropolisArts.com/accessibility/ for more information about Metropolis Performing Arts Centre accessibility efforts. 

ASL-Interpreted: Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 7:30 pm.

PRESS AND MARQUEE NIGHT PERFORMANCE

Opening night is Saturday, September 16 at 7:30 pm. Press members interested in attending the performance, please contact Laine R. (Marketing & PR Coordinator) at lrogers@metropolisarts.com.

SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS AND SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS

Get three shows for the price of two! By becoming a subscriber, pay no fees to exchange your tickets for a different performance of the same production at least 48 hours in advance; save 20% on additional tickets purchased for Main Stage Subscription shows and select Presented Works Series shows and events; secure your seat to all three Main Stage Series shows and never miss a show due to sell-out; enjoy 25% discounts on Winter Series tickets (A Christmas Carol, The Music Man In Concert, and Hooked on a Feeling). Donate your ticket back to Metropolis for a tax-deductible donation if you cannot see your show for any reason.

Regular Subscription: Includes one ticket to all three Main Stage Series Shows: The Addams Family, 9 to 5, and Million Dollar Quartet. May be used on any regular performance date. Regular Subscription price: $90.

Preview Subscription: Includes one ticket to a preview performance of all three Main Stage Series Shows: The Addams Family, 9 to 5, and Million Dollar Quartet. Preview Subscription price: $70.

For a detailed list of benefits that Subscribers receive, visit MetropolisArts.com

Test and expand your Broadway knowledge with our new game - The Broadway Match-Up! How well do you know your Broadway casting trivia?	Play the Daily Game, explore current shows, and delve into past decades like the 2000s, 80s, and the Golden Age. Challenge your friends and see where you rank!
How well do you know your Tony Awards history? Take our never-ending quiz of nominations and winner history and challenge your friends.	Can you beat your friends? Play today’s daily Broadway word game, featuring a new theatrically inspired word or phrase every day!