A new take on a love story comes to Eisenhower Auditorium this Valentine’s Day.
“The Addams Family” musical presented by Center for the Performing Arts is being performed tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium
“[This show] is a Broadway musical version of the older Addams Family cartoon and old Addams Family movie,” Laura Sullivan, marketing and communications director for CPA, said.
“[The Addams Family Musical] is an interesting take on Valentine’s Day,” she said. “It’s kind of fitting,” she added.
Sullivan said that although it may seem like a strange choice for a Valentine’s Day show, that “The Addams Family” musical involves many love stories.
“There really is no love like Morticia and Gomez,” she said.
Robert Schneider, assistant professor of theatre , said the aspect of romance is a “really, really sweet love story.” He said this theme is “the heart of the show.”
“It makes it even more relatable,” Schneider said.
The show focuses mostly on the Addams family, Bryan Welnicki , actor in the performance, said.
For this musical, Wednesday is all grown up and falls in love with Welnicki’s character, Lukas he said.
From the start of the romance, “craziness ensues,” he said.
In this show, Lukas comes from a different family that The Addams Family does not get along with, causing tensions, Welnicki said.
He said the show has a cast of over 15.
“It really is a true ensemble piece,” he said. “Everyone comes together,” he added.
Welnicki said the musical involves comedy from dark, sarcastic humor to sillier slapstick.
“The show is hilarious,” he said. “[It is] side-exploding funny,” he added.
Sullivan said she is most excited about this show coming to Penn State because it allows her to feel nostalgic about the original Addams Family she used to watch.
“For me, [I love] seeing the characters that I remember,” she said.
Welnicki said the show allows the adult in everyone to revel in the dark humor but also reminds people of the show they watched as a kid.
He said it “brings out the kid in you” and that it’s family friendly and just down-right hilarious.
Schneider said he loves that Penn State is able to bring so many theatrical performances to campus from many different genres.
He said that “The Addams Family” musical is funny, enjoyable, and that students shouldn’t take the easy availability of theater performances for granted.
“Penn State is doing a live theatrical event each week,” he said. “Not every other place does this,” he added.
Tickets for orchestra and grand tier are $62 for adults, $54 for those 18 and under and $44 for Penn State students. For balcony tickets are $53 for adults, $48 for those 18 and younger and $38 for Penn State students.
The show lasts about two hours.
