Community Performance Series Presents 2023 Summer Musical Production of 'The Addams Family'

'The Addams Family' Musical Stars Community Cast, Showing from July 13 to 16, in SUNY Potsdam's Performing Arts Center

Potsdam, NY (07/03/2023) — Community Performance Series will present a production of "The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy," based on the book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, this summer at SUNY Potsdam. The production will run from Thursday, July 13 through Sunday, July 16, with five showtimes.

"The Addams Family," a comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family, features an original story, and it's every father's nightmare: Wednesday Addams, played by Mekayla Fountaine '24, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family -- a man her parents have never met. And if that wasn't upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother.

Now, Gomez Addams, played by Kyle Flint, must do something he's never done before -- keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia, played by Meghan Janovsky '07 & '12. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday's "normal" boyfriend and his parents.

The show features more than 70 talented actors, crew, artists and musicians from around the Northern New York region, including SUNY Potsdam students, faculty and alumni, alongside local K-12 teachers, business owners and professionals. Stage directed by Lindsey Fifield, and vocal directed by Kimberly Busch '93 & '96, the production is beautifully choreographed by Kerri Canedy and backed by a live pit orchestra directed by Tim Savage '84.

"This Addams Family was ahead of its time in accepting people for who they were, no matter what they looked like or what quirks they had. They embraced the strangeness in others and celebrated what made others unique -- without judgment," noted Busch, "To me, theatre is family. I am thrilled to be able to work with so many wonderful community members and expand our CPS theatre family with 'The Addams Family.'"

"The Addams Family" will open on Thursday, July 13, with daily evening performances at 7:30 p.m. through Saturday, July 15. There will be two matinee shows, at 2 p.m., on Saturday and Sunday, July 15 and 16.

As an additional event to the show run, there will be an open dress rehearsal with a pre-show party, exclusively for St. Lawrence County youth ages 11 to 16, on Wednesday, July 12. The free, chaperoned event is supported by Stewart's Shops and has limited spots available. Check out the Community Performance Series website at cpspotsdam.org/summer for more information and to sign up.

"This show is a funny, sharp and heartfelt story which will appeal to fans of every generation, with many creative details folded into the design that pay homage to each version of 'The Addams Family' going back to the original comic by Charles Addams," shared Community Performance Series Director Vanessa Vaverchak. "I have immense gratitude for every single person who poured their heart into making this production truly fantastic, and cannot wait to share it with our community."

Tickets can be purchased online at www.cpspotsdam.org or in person at the Community Performance Series Box Office, located in the Performing Arts Center lobby, from Wednesday through Friday, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., through July 7. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door, starting one hour prior to each showtime.

About Community Performance Series:

The Community Performance Series is a college-community partnership presenting distinctive and renowned performing artists and arts education opportunities in Northern New York. This rich mixture of programming links communities, classrooms and audiences of all ages and preserves access to the performing arts for future generations. For more information, visit www.cpspotsdam.org.

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