Cape Town - MotherCity The South African premiere will take place at the Homecoming Centre.
Set for December 14, the musical by Andrew Lippa, Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice is based on the beloved characters created by Charles Addams.
The Addams Family Musical centres on the eccentric, macabre, and ghoulish Addams family led by Gomez and Morticia Addams.
With witty one-liners, crazy characters, spooky effects and all the weird and wonderful features that fans of the most outrageous family ever have come to expect, the show will be a holiday hit for young and old alike.
When that beloved and moody princess of darkness, Wednesday, falls for a “normal” boy named Lucas Beineke, the two families come together for a traditional “get to know the parents” dinner.
But when one of those families is The Addams Family, only chaos, comedy and calamity can ensue. When the laughter dies down, however, deeper themes are explored – such as love, tradition, acceptance, and embracing one’s uniqueness.
The production ran on Broadway for 722 performances and several awards. The South African production will feature a world-class ensemble of 19 performers from across Mzansi.
The Homecoming Centre, previously known as The Fugard, reopened its doors as a professional performing arts centre in 2023 with the award-winning production of The Promise.
With its slightly Gothic appearance and interesting history, the Homecoming Centre is the perfect venue for this stirring production.
MotherCity Theatre is a new professional theatre production company in Cape Town established by musical-theatre stalwarts Adrian van Stolk and Graham Boxall, whose mission is to provide world-class entertainment and create employment opportunities for an industry bursting with talent.
Leading the cast are Samantha Peo (“Chicago”, “Cabaret”) as Morticia Addams, Tiaan Rautenbach (“We Will Rock You”, “Mama Mia”) as Gomez Addams, Bethany Dickson (“Matilda”, “The Sound of Music”) as Alice Beineke, Brendan van Rhyn (“Cathy Specific”, “The Rocky Horror Show”) as Lurch, Chad Baai (“Buddy Holly”) as Lucas Beineke, and Jordyn Schaefer as Wednesday Addams.
They will be supported by Candice van Litsenborgh, Yahto Kraft, Chris van Rensburg, Lara Visagie, Rebecca Hartle, Jasmine Minter, Jessica de Bod, Braeden Buys, Brandon Jones and Jayden Dickson.
The production will be directed by Garth Tavares with set, costume and lighting designs by the award-winning team of Marthinus Basson and Nicolaas de Jongh.
Van Stolk told the Weekend Argus that the production also aims to provide job creation in the arts sector.
“Graham and I have always had a passion for musical theatre, but we are particularly interested in helping to create jobs. The sector is streaming with talent and we’d rather have our actors and technicians working in Cape Town than overseas.
“What has become evident, is the shortage of technical skills which are reducing at a rapid rate.
“Costume making, set making, and scenic painting for theatre are just some of the skills that have become very scarce in Cape Town, which is a great pity.
“Interestingly, many of those skills would have been provided in the old days from District Six, which is right on the theatre’s doorstep.
“What is exciting is that there is a definite resurgence of demand for musical theatre in Cape Town. We also believe there is a huge tourist market who have few night-time alternatives besides restaurants.
“The challenge here is the shortage of purely commercially mandated theatres in Cape Town.”
Tavares explained: “Bringing ‘The Addams Family Musical’ to life will involve honouring its legacy and adding fresh, creative elements. As the director, my approach will start with understanding the core essence of the Addams family, which will balance dark humour with heartfelt moments, just as creator Charles Addams did so well.
“My exceptional team and I will focus on creating our spin on the unique world of the Addams family – where the macabre is celebrated, and unconventionality is the norm. This will involve meticulous attention to the visual and auditory aesthetics, ensuring that every element, from set design to costume choices, reflects the iconic gothic charm and eerie elegance of the Addams household and their surroundings,” he said.
“Dramatically, our aim will be to delve into these characters’ relationships, exploring themes of love, acceptance, and family unity in an entertaining and thought-provoking way.
“Ultimately, it will be about creating a cohesive experience where every element works together to bring this beloved story to life, capturing its spirit while offering something new and exciting for both long-time fans and newcomers.”
Tickets are available via Webtickets and range from R350 to R580.