MANCHESTER, NH – Whether you are old enough to remember the TV version of the Addams Family, or young enough to still get caught up in the excitement of this holiday season, for all its unbridled candy and costumes, the current musical production of “The Addams Family,” which opens Oct. 23 at the Palace Theatre, will satisfy everyone’s urge for spooky Halloween hilarity.
Playing Gomez is William Hartery, a Manchester native and 1997 West High School graduate who returns to the Palace with this production.
“I first performed at the Palace in 1993, and have spent hundreds of hours in this theater. I grew up on this stage, and I consider the Palace my home,” said Hartery, who is enjoying family time in his hometown during his favorite time of year.
“There’s no place like New Hampshire in October – plus, my birthday is this month, so I’m having a perfect time right now,” Hartery said.
Laurie Elizabeth Gardner, a Kansas native who lives in New York City, will be playing the ever-moody and beguiling Wednesday, daughter of Gomez and Morticia Addams.
“She’s a teenager with all kinds of mood swings, from angry to fun and excited,” said Gardner. “The biggest thing for me about playing Wednesday is keeping her physicality in mind. She’s part of a dark but loving family, and so I have to find the balance and incorporate that into her character.”
The script is family friendly and follows the Addams clan in a time and space somewhere beyond where the television and movie versions left off. Wednesday is in love and engaged to be married, which provides plenty of meaty angsty material for the on-stage father/daughter duo of Hatery and Gardner.
Between the two of them, they share some of their favorite moments in the show together on stage – for Gardner, it’s hard to beat the opening number, “When You’re an Addams,” which gets right to the point of what makes this “creepy, kooky” family dynamic so lovable. And for Hatery, its the duet sung by Gomez and Wedneday, “Happy Sad,” which he says every parent will relate to:
I’m feeling happy, I’m feeling sad.
A little childish, a little Dad.
I think of all the days you’ve done.
All the ways you’ve grown.
See you on your own, and then
I’m feeling happy and sad again.
“For me, it’s that sentiment that’s at the heart of the show. It’s almost unexpected, in the midst of all the classic Addams stuff – campy, silly and all of that spooky, goofy stuff. But at the heart of it, it’s about a family that loves one another, especially Gomez,” said Hatery. “Despite the overall creepiness of the Addams Family, Gomez is just a happy guy who loves his family.”
The Addams Family will play at the Palace Theatre for both evening and matinee performances beginning Friday, October 23, 2015 through Saturday, November 14, 2015. Thank you to the sponsors of the 2015-2016 Citizens Bank Performing Arts Series production of The Addams Family, A New Musical Comedy include, McLane Middleton, Northside Plaza, Cross Insurance, Riverstone, Margaritas, Firefly, and Pinard Waste.
For ticket information and show times call the Palace Theatre Box Office at 603.668.5588 or visit PalaceTheatre.org. The Addams Family, brings Halloween to Manchester early.
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