A modern version of the Addams family, complete with creepy family members and a hilarious plot, will entertain audiences during the upcoming Kiwanis Kapers’ musical, “A Wicked Welcome,” Tuesday Addams Goes to College.
The 59th annual show will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10 and 11, and 3 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Bradford Area High School auditorium. The two-act show will include an intermission with refreshments available in the lobby.
Directors Kristin Asinger and Shelley Wright said this year’s show is guaranteed to provide plenty of laughs and musical numbers for an evening of entertainment.
“In the show we’re saying they’re ancestors or cousins of the Addams family,” said Wright during a break in rehearsal last week. “They’re not the Addams family, but they’re related so they act the same.”
Wright, who provides musical direction for the cast and helped write the show, said approximately 100 children and adults auditioned for the production.
“When you figure the people involved behind the scenes, the stage crew and others who are helping out, it’s about 100” all told in the production, Wright added. “Everybody who tried out is involved in some way.”
Asinger said the cast is doing really well and expect to stage a fun musical.
“Everybody’s getting their lines down and songs down,” she said, noting the show has to be learned and performed by the cast in eight to 10 weeks. “The show will bring back memories (from the televised Addams sitcom), but there are a lot fun twists we’ve added to this.”
As always, a number of children in the musical, as well as several individuals with special needs, are certain to delight audiences.
“That’s what Kapers is all about, including the whole community,” Asinger remarked. With that said, the director said she hopes others in the community will support the show by attending the musical. Proceeds from the annual event benefit a number of community organizations for youth.
Nick Kichor, assistant director, writer and choreographer, said the show has been all-consuming, but enjoyable for him.
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun,” Kichor said, noting he has two children in the production. “There are a lot of people giving up a lot of their time to be here.”
David Merwine, who portrays Gonzolo Addams, the counterpart to Gomez Addams in the television sitcom, said he has enjoyed being a part of the show. Merwine recently performed and was lauded for his starring role in “Man of La Mancha” produced by Olean (N.Y.) Community Theatre.
“Man of La Mancha was a very small cast and this is a humongous cast,” Merwine said of Kapers. “This is my first time I’ve done Kapers” on stage.
Merwine said he had helped with the Kapers’ stage crew last year and enjoyed that endeavor.
“My part is a lot of fun, and my co-star, Connie Shanks (who portrays Tisha Addams) is great,” he added.
Georgia Newhouse is coordinating props and costumes and said this aspect of the show is shaping up quite well.
“We’re ahead of schedule with props, costumes and everything,” Newhouse said. “We have three people doing makeup, but we’re looking for a couple more volunteers.”
Newhouse said more information on helping with makeup or hairstyling can be obtained by contacting Brian Lewis at blewis1021@gmail.com.
Advance tickets for the show are $5 for students or $6 at the door; and $8 in advance for adults or $10 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at all branches of Northwest Bank, Graham Florist, Fuhrman Chiropractic, Wright’s Music Shed and the Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce.
