BUCYRUS – The curtain call is finally up for the Bucyrus Little Theatre.
After nearly a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Theatre is officially kicking off its 2021-2022 season Thursday with the opening of “The Addams Family-A New Musical Comedy” at 7:30 p.m.
A 25-member cast will perform the musical production, which is being directed by Cindy Light. Other performances are set for Sept. 25 at 7:30 p.m., Sept. 26 at 2:30 p.m., Oct. 2 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Oct. 3 at 2:30 p.m.
“You get the fever or the itch or whatever,” said Dave Cory, who plays an ancestor in the adaptation of the popular television show. “It’s nice to be up on stage doing something like this. There’s a lot of excellent talent in the community.”
Cory, a veteran of the theatre stage, said rehearsals for “The Addams Family” started about two-and-a-half months ago. “We have all the characters, Fester, Gomez, Morticia, and there’s a lot of dancing, the main characters, and the ancestors too.”
Tim Lutz is playing creepy Gomez Addams, while Amanda Zucker, who is also the show’s choreographer, portrays his beloved wife, Morticia. Katie Duncan is cast as their daughter Wednesday, and Chris Laughbaum is Uncle Fester.
The Theatre, 130 Songer Street, was forced to cancel the rest of its season in March 2020 because of the pandemic. However, it opted to stage a virtual show last December called “Bucyrus Little Theatre: Holiday Cheer” through Facebook Live.
In-house protocols have since been changed, Cory said, requiring all patrons to wear face masks while inside the building, regardless of their vaccination status. This includes volunteers as well as cast and crew members when they are not on stage.
Cory said the upcoming comedy centers on Wednesday Addams – the princess of darkness – who grows up and falls in love with a “normal” boyfriend, Lucas. The two plan a dinner at the mansion to announce to their families their plans to get married.
The idea, however, is shocking to both the families, and when the entire group winds up locked in overnight, secrets come out, and revelations abound. All of the ancestors then come back to life, he said, in order to help Uncle Fester get them married.
Cheri Laughbaum is cast as Grandma, Makayla Crockett plays Pugsley, and Tom Etsinger is Lurch.
Rounding out the cast are Nathan Rabun as Lucas Beineke, Patty Schwall as Alice Beineke, Jason Chandler as Mal Beineke, and dozens of ancestors.
“We’re just hoping a lot of people take the time to see this production,” Cory said. “There’s a lot of work involved. We just want the public to know there’s quality talent in the area, and we want them to come out and enjoy a laugh or two.”
Tickets for the show may be purchased online at www.bucyruslittletheatre.com or by calling the theatre box office at 419-562-0731. Adult tickets are $15, and student tickets are $10.
The 2021-2022 season will continue with “Elf, The Musical” Dec. 3-5 and Dec. 10-12 and “The Boys Next Door” in March 2022. “Monty Python’s Spamalot” will wrap up the season with performances next June.