PEQUOT LAKES-Pequot Lakes Community Theater will present "The Addams Family, A New Musical" at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22-23 and March 1, and 2 p.m. Feb. 24 and March 2-3, in the Pequot Lakes High School auditorium.
Meet the artists Feb. 22 before the show and during intermission. Talkback sessions are scheduled after the performances Feb. 24 and March 2.
As the curtain rises, the last dead leaf of autumn falls from the Addams Family Tree, and all is right with the morbid, macabre world of Gomez played by Ben Gordon of Pine River; Morticia played by Kate Davis of Pequot Lakes; Fester played by Dalton Ebnet of Pequot Lakes; Grandma played by Jen Anderson of Pine River; Wednesday played by Nicole Rothleutner of Pequot Lakes; Pugsley played by Josh Anderson of Brainerd; and Lurch played by Sam Moreland of Breezy Point.
"They've gathered, where else, but in the family graveyard, to celebrate life and death in a yearly ritual to connect with their past and ensure their future," a news release stated. "They seem at peace, not just with each other and their inimitable, unchanging Addams-ness, but with their dead ancestors, too."
The dead ancestors played by Phylipe Bell, Bobbi Cruikshank, River Curtis, Lola Eastwood, Brianna Engels, Gracin Johnson, Susan Langins, Rachel Martin, Heather Pearson and Nikoa Perkins-emerge from their graves on this night each year to join in this celebration of continuity. But, at the end of the ritual, Fester blocks the ancestors' return to their graves. Those unchanging Addams family values are about to be tested.
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The story goes on as Fester enlists their help to set things right, just in case a new family secret goes terribly wrong. What's the secret? Wednesday Addams has grown up and found love. The problem is the young man, Lucas Beineke played by Eddie Binda of Merrifield, is from Ohio and his parents, played by Andrea and Mike Anderson, of Brainerd are coming to dinner to meet the family. Classic characters, Cousin Itt played by Keenen Bleichner of Brainerd and Thing played by Daisy Davis of Pequot Lakes, also will make appearances.
Michelle Gonzalez is the choreographer; Lisa Sater, orchestra director; Tim Leagjeld,
scenic design; Molly Krautkremer and Chris Melberg, set construction; Travis Chaput, stage manager; Mike Macy, technical director; Brady Davis, Lily Bleichner, Owen Gitchell and Ken Henke, techs and theater technicians; Kate Davis, vocal director; and there will be an orchestra pit and production crew.
The book is by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice; music and lyrics is by Andrew Lippa; and it is based on characters created by Charles Addams.
Tickets are $14 for adults, $10 for seniors 60 and older and $12 for youths 18 and younger. They may be reserved by calling 218-568-9200 or purchased online at www.glapa.org .
The production is sponsored by Essentia Health and made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Five Wings Arts Council, thanks to a Legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
