BrightSide Theatre has announced cast and crew for THE ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL - the kickoff production of BrightSide's 15th Anniversary season. The gloriously ghoulish characters created by Charles Addams for THE NEW YORKER Magazine - Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, Uncle Fester, and Grandma; along with their servants Lurch and Thing - will take the stage of the Theater at Meiley-Swallow Hall from October 2 – 18. BrightSide's De Haddad will direct, with music direction by Phil Videckis and choreography by Shane Brown. The musical, which ran for 22 months on Broadway in. 2010 and 2011 after a 2009 tryout in Chicago, has remained an audience favorite ever since.
This wickedly funny musical with book by Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman (JERSEY BOYS), and songs by Andrew Lippa (THE WILD PARTY, BIG FISH), follows Wednesday Addams as she falls in love with a perfectly respectable young man from a very normal family. When the two families meet for dinner, secrets are revealed, expectations are challenged, and hilarity ensues. Filled with unforgettable characters, catchy songs, and laugh-out-loud comedy, this Broadway hit celebrates what makes every family unique.
Haddad's cast will be led by Scott Kelley of Schaumburg as Gomez and Samantha Keret of Naperville as Morticia. Kelley's most recent appearance among his many leading roles with BrightSide was as Max Bialystock in this past summer's THE PRODUCERS. Keret is making her BrightSide debut. The Addams Family children will be played by Lauren Mathews of Chicago as Wednesday and Jake Keller of Bristol as Pugsley. Mathews appeared in BrightSide's THE PRODUCERS and Keller is a recent graduate of North Central College, where he majored in musical theater and acted, designed, and directed several musicals. Colin Borisenko of Chicago, a veteran of the city's renowned improv comedy scene, will be Uncle Fester. Dona Mullen, who hosts a jazz radio show in WDCB-FM and has played such iconic stage roles as Ouiser in STEEL MAGNOLIAS, will be Grandma. The family's taciturn butler, Lurch, will be played by Nahuel Redoba, who has performed at the venerable Fireside Theatre in Wisconsin.
Appearing as Wednesday's boyfriend Lucas Beineke will be Matthew Andresen of Kenosha, Wisconsin (BrightSide's PIPPIN and PHANTOM IN CONCERT). John McNally of Itasca (Frank-n-Furter in BrightSide's THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW) and Jeff Award winning actress Amy Arbizanni of Naperville have been cast as Lucas' parents Mal and Alice.
The ensemble of Addams ancestors will be Michelle Bolliger of Roselle, Hannah Decker of North Aurora, Ashley Chavez of Downers Grove, Chris Frewen-Peña of Bolingbrook, Sydnee Howes of New Lenox, Peter Kattner III of Chicago, Katelynn Pitzafero of Barrington, and Emily Sherman of Chicago. Understudies are Michelle Bolliger (u/s Morticia, Alice), Hannah Decker (u/s Wednesday), Chris Frewen-Peña (u/s Gomez, Mal), and Peter Kattner III (u/s Lucas).
The production team will include Cheryl Newman (Costume Designer), Kurt Ottinger (Lighting Designer), Ariel Mozes (Scenic Designer), and Evan C. Summers-Oslund (Stage Manager).
Tickets for individual shows are $37.00 for adults and $32.00 for students and seniors. Season subscriptions and individual show tickets are sale at www.BrightSidetheatre.com or by phone at 630-447-TIXS (8497).
THE ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL
Book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice
Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa
Orchestrations by Larry Hochman
Based on Characters Created by Charles Addams
Director: De Haddad
Music Director: Phil Videckis
Choreographer: Shane Brown
October 2 - 18, 2026
Fri & Sat @ 7:30pm | Sun @2pm
The Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth, Naperville
THE ADDAMS FAMILY is a comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family—a man her parents have never met. And if that wasn't upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he's never done before—keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday's "normal" boyfriend and his parents.
