Audiences visiting The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater this fall can expect an unusual evening of theater featuring exquisite costumes and twisted humor, according to a October 18 report. The Ruth’s production of The Addams Family brings the eccentric family to life in a musical that blends comedy with a story about embracing individuality.
The musical centers on Wednesday Addams and her romance with Lucas Beineke, a young man from an ordinary family. The story explores the challenges that arise when the two families collide during an evening together. Director Jennifer Hill Barlow stated that the musical explores love, family, and the courage to be authentic, noting that the characters love each other because of their differences rather than despite them.
The production features an immersive stage design where the theater reimagined its performance space to bring the world of the Addams Family closer to the audience. Some seats were placed directly in the middle of the stage area, allowing actors to interact with audience members. Costume design by La Beene establishes the show's distinctive gothic atmosphere, contrasting the Addamses' dark aesthetic with the conventional world of the Beineke family.
The creative team for the production includes associate director Mike Romney, choreographer Sayoko Knode Peterson, music director Justin Bills, scenic designer Kacey Udy, lighting designer Renee Fowler, sound designer Tim Riggs, hair and makeup designer Bekah Wilbur, and prop designer Megan Heaps. The theater is located at the doTERRA Performing Arts Center in Pleasant Grove.
The Addams Family runs through Oct. 31, with nightly performances at 7:30 p.m. and select Saturday matinees at 12:30 and 4 p.m. The theater is located at 401 S. Pleasant Grove Blvd. Tickets are available through The Ruth’s website or by calling the box office at 801-226-8600.
