SOCORRO, N.M. – It’s Halloween every day for the Addams Family, a clan of macabre characters living in an old Victorian mansion. The dark comedy, based on The New Yorker comic strip from the 1930s drawn by artist Charles Addams, the hit 1960s TV sitcom and multiple movies, TV specials, animated series and comic books, will come to life with orchestral music, songs, dance, costumes and ghoulish makeup on the New Mexico Tech Macey Center Stage for three performances next month. Socorro Community Theater is joining forces with NMT’s CLASS (Communication, Liberal Arts, and Social Sciences) Department to present “The Addams Family Musical.” Performances are Friday, April 5, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 6, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 7, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $16 for adults; $12 for seniors age 65 and older; $8 for youth age 17 and younger; and free for NMT students who show a Tech ID. Tickets are available online at: nmt.edu/pas

Director Theresa Apodaca said she’s thrilled to oversee this spring’s annual musical comedy production. What surprised her most about her crew is the intensity of preparation from the actors. 

“They're doing it all: acting, singing and dancing,” she said.

The show’s producer, CLASS Dean Dr. Steve Simpson, said the students involved in the musical – both cast and crew – are having the time of their lives preparing for the performances, which, he said, are guaranteed to delight audiences.

“Our students are just dying to express their creative sides,” he said. “The Addams Family Musical taps into the ghoulish spirit many on campus and the community share.”

According to Dana Chavez NMT Performing Arts Series (PAS) director, the cast includes both NMT students and “townies.” In addition to Director Apodaca, the crew includes Musical Director Dr. Eileen Comstock and Dr. Steve Simpson as producer.  Sophie Bauer, NMT’s assistant director of Student Leadership and Engagement and Career Services, is overseeing set construction, lighting and props, assisted by Lloyd Tozier. Dr. Eileen Comstock is leading the 11-member orchestra. 

The play features Katie Teems Norris as Morticia, Ruben Rodriguez Hernandez as Gomez, Jessica Bice as Grandma, Cameron Caruso as Wednesday, Jalethzie Pena as Pugsly, Deven Raman as Lurch and Dillon Dong as Uncle Fester.

Steve Simpson, NMT’s Dean of Arts and Sciences, said NMT PAS is tying the musical in with the “Live Entertainment: Tech & Production” classes, funded by the Creative Industries grant from the NM Economic Development Department.  The classes offer hands-on experiences to students with PAS shows and events at Macey Center. For the musical, Macey Center Technical Director Jenny Cyphers taught two days of set and stage design in which the students in the class helped to paint and design some of the sets for “The Addams Family Musical.”  Dr. Loren Schreiber, professor emeritus in theater from San Diego State University, taught the ins and outs of stage rigging – working with some of the backdrops ordered from a national company especially for “The Addams Family Musical.”

Chavez said she is excited for Socorro audiences to see “The Addams Family Musical” on the Macey Center stage.

"It’s going to be great fun for all ages,” she said. “We’re delighted to host this ghoulish comedy and to provide the opportunity for our technical production students to contribute their talents to making the show a success.” 

Cast:
Morticia, Katie Teems Norris
Gomez, Ruben Rodriguez Hernandez
Wednesday, Cameron Caruso
Grandma, Jessica Bice
Pugsly, Jalethzie Pena
Lurch, Deven Raman
Uncle Fester, Dillon Dong
The Thing, Abby Cadol
Cousin Itt, Aurelia Mazon-Adkins
Monster, Steve Simpson
Alice Beineke, Cora Stidham
Lucas Beineke, Simon Kopischke
Mal Beineke, Jay Peters
Ancestor/flight attendant, Abby Watkins
Ancestor/Greek god, Rem Jaques Quinonez
Ancestor/mob boss, Addisyn Fassett
Ancestor/flapper, Clarissa Crawford
Ancestor/Bride, Haley Cordova
Ancestor/flapper, Keilahna McFall
Ancestor/nurse, Antonia Saavedra
Ancestor/groom, Estevan Ortega
Ancestor/pilgrim, Dru Cadol
Ancestor/renaissance, Charlie Watkins
Ancestor/gambler, Finn Pias

Orchestra:
Denise Gilson, flute and alto saxophone
Paul Demorest, clarinet and tenor saxophone
Alexander Bethel, violin
Jackson Orr, cello
Benjamin Olmstead, trumpet
Sarah Stanley, trombone
Andrew Wagg, drums
Tyler Peterson, percussion
Jim Ruff, bass guitar
Heather Sanchez, keyboard
Kaitlynn Grigg, keyboard

Production Crew:
Theresa Apodaca, director
Eileen Comstock, musical director
Steve Simpson, producer
Lloyd Tozier, production manager/set construction
Heather Sanchez, accompanist and vocal coach
Vanessa Cordova, stage manager
Sophie Bauer, props master/set construction
Beth Cadol, prompter
Fita Apodaca, Liza Apache, Beth Cadol, costumes
Christie Smith, set construction/painting
JoAnn Salome, stage crew
Alejandra Mayorga Del Valle, stage crew
Trinity Trost, stage crew
Marina Baca, stage crew
Keilahna McFall, makeup
Val Thomas, makeup
Grace O’Leary, makeup
Bhumika Bhakta, makeup
Jonique Saiz, makeup
Dana Chavez, publicity