Bringing SPOOKY to the stage

“Why wouldn’t you want to spend an evening with The Addams Family?” That is the question being posed by St Martins Lutheran College drama teacher and musical director Andy Ahrens. The school is deep into rehearsals for its biannual musical and it is the cult classic The Addams Family that is set to hit the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre stage on August 10 and 11. The play is based on the

1964 television show, with the musical being a dark comedy with acceptance and love at its heart and the St Martins Lutheran College version has been a project five months in the making. “It’s a full-scale production,” Mr Ahrens said.

“There are shorter versions of the Addams Family, we are not doing that; we are doing what you would see on Broadway, so, we have got the full orchestra.

“You do not see musicals in Mount Gambier very often, so this is an opportunity for people to get their musical fix. To me it’s a no brainer.”

The biannual musical is a hallmark of the St Martins community and is one of the most loved traditions of the college. The event always draws a large audience of families, friends and community members who are keen to see what the college has put together.

Two years ago the college brought Shrek to life on stage. The 2023 musical stars Year 10 students Lauren Agnew as Morticia, Josh Tilley as Gomez Addams, Tia Lawrie as Wednesday and Year 9 student Jacob Halleday as Pugsley.

Supporting the Addams Family are the characters of Uncle Fester, Lurch, Grandma and 17 ancestors who play ghosts of past family members.

As well as the actors, the college instrumental students make up the orchestra who perform live with the cast. The musical arrives on the back of the success of the Netflix series ‘Wednesday’.

“We have had The Addams Family on our minds for a few years now, so selecting it prior to the Netflix series being released was a bonus,” Mr Ahrens said.

The Addams Family hits the stage on Thursday, August 10, and Friday, August 11, with tickets available to purchase on the Country Arts SA website.