Review: THE ADDAMS FAMILY A NEW MUSICAL is Creepy Funny at the New Theatre in Overland Park

All things ghoulish, macabre, ghastly, and a little bit frightening are alive and well living within the walls of the Addams Family home. The only place to see this outrageous musical comedy is at the New Theatre in Overland Park. Richard Carrothers directs The Addams Family a New Musical running through September 20 at the dinner theater. Daniel Doss provides musical direction and Katelin Zelon the choreography for the delightful yet maybe a little bizarre musical.

The musical based on the characters in gag cartoons created by Charles Addams with book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa opened on Friday July 16. The production opened on Broadway in April of 2010, running until December 31, 2011. The original Broadway production received two Tony Award nominations and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design, the Drama League Award for Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre and Distinguished Performance, and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Set Design.

Gomez is the patriarch and Morticia the matriarch of a bazaar family of misfits, their son Pugsley, daughter Wednesday, Grandma, Uncle Fester, Thing in a box, and their every faithful butler who looks like he has just risen from the dead, Lurch. Gomez has never kept a secret from Morticia, but cannot refuse to keep a one when Wednesday tells him she is engaged and not to tell anyone. Her fiancé and his family have been invited to the Addams house for dinner and they plan to deliver the news at that time.

Jerry Jay Cranford is fantastic as Gomez Addams, the father, husband, lover, and head nutcase. Cranford has a marvelous voice and a wonderful sense of comedic timing. Hillary Marren fabulously plays Morticia, his wife.

Katie Karel gives a powerful performance as Wednesday, the beautiful, intelligent, yet humorously disturbed daughter who has fallen for a man without the unsettling qualities of members of the Addams family. Zach Sorrow is magnificent as the boyfriend, soon to be husband, who has not met Wednesday's family.

Cathy Barnett appears as Grandma, Tim Scott as Mal Lucas's father, Ashley Pankow as Alice Mal's wife, Thomas Forde as Lurch, and Phil Fiorini as Fester. Brandon Heflin, Billy Meschberger, and Aidan Sitzman who appeared on opening night share the part of Pugsley.

The stage is filled with ghostly ancestors of the Addams family played by Katelyn Baron, Tyler Eisenreich, Shelby Floyd, Anthony J. Gasbarre III, Chris Jehnert, Sara Kennedy, Mindy Moritz, T. Eric Morris, and Christian Thomas.

Only a few minutes into the show it is easy to believe the characters of The Addams Family should all be committed, but so should anyone who misses an opportunity to see this superb production. The Addams Family a New Musical runs through September 20 at the dinner theater. The cost of a ticket includes a scrumptious gourmet buffet that is sure to please the most particular of pallets. Purchase tickets by calling the box office at 913-649-SHOW or visit the New Theatre website to purchase online. Photo courtesy of the New Theatre.

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