The Addams Family Musical Presents Far-Fetched Love Story, Funky Family Dynamics
Story by Maria G. O’Donnell
Photography by Michael Robb
Is it a love story or a freak show? Perhaps a little of each.
Premiering this month is “The Addams Family Musical,” a production of West Hartford Community Theater (WHCT). The nonprofit performing arts group will present the show Nov. 6-8 and Nov. 13-15 at Duffy Elementary School.
According to Artistic Director Michael Robb, The Addams Family Musical is “about two deeply weird families—one knows they’re weird, the other has no idea how weird they are. The Addams family has come from the dark corner of the human experience and are very comfortable with the way they live. The Beineke family are people who think they’re normal, but it’s backwards—they’ve spent many years swallowing their impulses and are much more unsettling than the Addamses.”
The show is set at the Addams family mansion at a time when Wednesday Addams is no longer a little girl as portrayed on the TV show and movies. She’s now in her 20s and her love interest is the “opposition” family’s son, Lucas Beineke. This relationship “brings the two families together,” said Robb. “They find out they’re more similar than they realize.”
He noted that the production is “a very funny show; it will make people laugh. There are some sweet moments—and some dark and strange—but definitely a comedy.” Despite the dark element, he said that it’s a “family-friendly show; people will be delighted by it and laugh their way through the show [while] enjoying incredible singing and dancing.”
WHCT Board Member Sarah Hayes, who plays Wednesday’s mom, Morticia Addams, said that in this “dark musical comedy” it’s been “a lot of fun to play Morticia, who sees a lot of herself in [Wednesday], who’s more like Morticia when she was younger. She’s disobeying her family” because the two families “are very opposed and different.” Still, Wednesday and Lucas try to blend into each other’s families – that’s when it “gets murky.”
As an actor, Hayes said, “I’ve pulled inspiration from the TV show and movies so people can recognize Morticia and can connect with her” because they’ve seen her before in one of those formats. “I hope people will have nostalgic memories of when they watched the Addams Family. It’s a great show.”
She credited Robb, who’s been with WHTC since 2018 as an actor, and now as artistic director. “I’ve seen him in acting roles; it’s great to see him in a director’s role and having that experience.”
As artistic director, Robb explained, “My role is to establish the overall look, feel and tone of the show; the overall vision of how I want it to look for the audience experience. I spend a lot of time with the actors and what to do with the characters, to pull out the funniest moments and make sure it’s a good time for an audience.” He’s working with a cast of 31 people, and credited Music Director David Jarkey and Choreographer Jen Bunger. He said the show will include “quite a bit of dancing; we’ll make sure it’s spectacular.”
Hayes also drew attention to WHCT’s “most fascinating ensemble” described as a Greek chorus, which is typically not seen, “but it helps the story along like a Muse and is not connected to the characters.” With this production’s ensemble, they are seen, only by the Addams family, however, not the Beinekes. The ensemble is composed of ghosts, who are the Addams family’s ancestors.
“They bring it to life; they are the heart of the show to help carry the story line,” Hayes explained. She illustrated that while she’s dancing as Morticia with the ancestors behind her, the Beinekes can’t see them, and it’s unique that the audience and Addams family members can. “They are the show,” she said. “They’re in every scene, bringing things to life. They’re flappers, flight attendants, cavemen and conquistadors.”
The thought of those scenes alone can make one laugh, and Hayes assures laughter. Because of the “witty puns,” the audience “has to pay attention,” she said, “especially with Gomez (Wednesday’s father). The things he says are hysterically funny.” Ryan Binder, who plays Gomez, does “a phenomenal job. Everyone is laughing in rehearsal.”
Hayes said that “the audience will have a night of enjoyment. The songs will be stuck in their heads and they’ll be singing leaving the theater.” WHL
The Addams Family Musical Show Information
The Addams Family runs for two weekends, November 6–8 and November 13–15, 2026. For tickets, performance times and additional information, visit westhartfordtheater.org. The show will be held at the Theater at Duffy School, 95 Westminster Dr., West Hartford.
West Hartford Community Theater, Inc. (WHCT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing opportunity and access to programs and the performing arts for West Hartford and the surrounding communities.