A fantastic portrayal of The Addams Family: front row – Pugsley (Grant Spiegel), Wednesday (Sophia Martin), and Grandma Addams (Deb Martin); middle row – Morticia (Kendall Victor) and Gomez (Clint Dougherty); and back row – Fester (Cameron Victor) and Lurch (Casey Martin).
Don’t miss out on seeing “The Addams Family, A New Musical” with your own eyes on the Liberty Theatre stage this weekend! For ticket information, call 660-744-5599.
The Addams Family Ancestors did such a good job of bringing the “spookiness” to life.
Cameron Victor was extremely hilarious as Uncle Fester.
It’s easy to forget you are watching actors when viewing this crew.
The love Gomez (Clint Dougherty) had for his wife, Morticia (Kendall Victor), was clearly shown.
The Liberty Theatre presented its first production of “The Addams Family, A New Musical” this past weekend in the Atchison County Memorial Building in Rock Port, Missouri. The play was directed by Devon Sons.
Members of the cast included: The Addams Family – Gomez (Clint Dougherty), Morticia (Kendall Victor), Fester (Cameron Victor), Wednesday (Sophia Martin), Pugsley (Grant Spiegel), Grandma Addams (Deb Martin), and Lurch (Casey Martin); The Beinekes – Mal (Ryan Harms), Alice (Mikaela Sons), and Lucas (Kyle Stuart); and The Addams Family Ancestors – Hippie (Erica Taylor), Bride (Kristi Spellman), Saloon Girl (Christina Hall), Flapper (Claire Spiegel), Cow Girl (Claire Miller), Nurse (Abbie Harms), Native American (Sophia Storm), The Twins (Isabella Kroeger and Kennedi Seiter), Socialite (Audrey Dougherty), 80’s Prom Queen (Hadleigh Jones), Peasant Girl (Morgan Garst), and Caveman (Malachi Davis). The crew included: Jordan Andrews, music director; Christina Hall, choreographer; Jan Carpenter, stage/prop manager; Lee Harms, backstage assistance; Scott Deatz, set builder/sound engineer; Elliot Smith, lighting designer; Davin Holste and Molly Carpenter, light operators; Lee Harms, Abbie Harms, and Kristi Spellman, set painting/decorating; Robidoux Resident Theatre, costume rental; and Theresa Crawford, seamstress/alterations.
Members of the orchestra were: Jordan Andrews, piano/conductor; Richard Boettner, keyboard 2; Greg Haddock, guitar; Andy Wiederholt, bass; Amanda Sutton, percussion; Mark Reinig, drums; Amanda Sheeley, reed 1; Bradley Sheeley, reed 2; Maddie Fenimore, flute; Payton Beucher, bari sax; Abby Palmer, trumpet; and John Salehi, trombone.
Once again, Liberty Theatre’s cast, crew, and orchestra did a fantastic job of bringing a story to life. Liberty Theatre’s favorite leading man, Clint Dougherty, fully embodied Gomez Addams and spectators forgot that they were watching an actor just playing a part. Whatever costume or character Clint portrays, he becomes with every ounce of his soul and it’s an absolute joy to watch and listen to him.
Not to be outdone by Clint was Cameron Victor as Uncle Fester. Cameron is also a fan favorite at Liberty Theatre and boy did he show off his talents this weekend! Cameron’s antics as Fester kept everyone on their edge of their seats laughing uproariously. His ghostly cohorts – The Addams Family Ancestors – ranging in age from elementary to adult, easily made you believe you were watching a contingent from the afterlife floating around the stage and sending chills down the viewers’ arms with the spellbinding high notes perfectly pitched by Erica Taylor, Kristi Spellman, Christina Hall, and others. One thing Liberty Theatre does not lack is singers and actors/actresses who can easily compete with any big city crew.
In a family affair, three Martins took the stage to portray Wednesday (Sophia Martin), Grandma Addams (Deb Martin), and Lurch (Casey Martin). Sophia hauled Wednesday’s attitude and behavior around like a backpack, hunched over and easily maneuvering the audience to forget her real-life sunshiney disposition and believe she was indeed extremely “off,” but could also have a sweet side. She brought that strangeness of Addams family lore to life! Casey and Deb, no strangers to any stage of entertainment in Atchison County, traded the creation of laughs back and forth, even though Casey had few words as Lurch. Their comedic relief has been immensely enjoyed for years.
Wednesday’s partner in crime, her brother, Pugsley, was portrayed by Grant Spiegel, who is Atchison County’s leading “little man” on the Liberty Theatre stage. He may be young, but he never fails at bringing his characters to life and creating a smile, laugh, or tear from his audience.
Morticia was played by Kendall Victor, who is also a Liberty Theatre regular. Although Morticia is as odd as the rest of her family, Kendall did a great job embodying Morticia’s motherly tendencies and quick wit, as well as getting her tango on with Gomez.
Wednesday’s fiancé Lucas was played by Kyle Stuart, who perfectly took on his second Liberty Theatre production as the young teenage heart throb. He made the audience believe that he indeed loves Wednesday and all her weirdness. His parents – Mal (Ryan Harms) and Alice (Mikaela Sons) – are a funny, “normal” mother and father duo. Although it’s Mikaela’s 12th Liberty Theatre musical and only the second for Ryan, they worked perfectly together to create an overworked father and poetic mother who throw away their inhibitions at the end.
The orchestra was almost too good, with a huge line-up of players clearly in tune and “one” with their instrument. Although sometimes the music overpowered the singing, it was so amazing and easy to get lost in the rhythms and movements of the sound.
And of course, without the help of the behind-the-scenes crew, this production would not have been such a success. From choreography to set design and movement, to lighting and sound, to the set-up and take-down of materials and food and ticket-taking, they were all a well-oiled machine.
Don’t miss out on the last performances this weekend at Liberty Theatre. Catch The Addams Family and friends on the stage at 7:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 23 and 24, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 25. For ticket information, call 660-744-5599.
