PLEASANT GROVE — I will admit that I am not originally an Addams Family fan. Frankly, I’ve seen a million high school productions of it, and even when it’s done by a more reputable theater, the production can still feel very amateur. However, I was pleasantly surprised by The Addams Family at The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater. It is the real deal and incredibly high quality.
The Addams Family originated as a cartoon by Charles Addams’ in 1938. It was adapted into a musical in 2010 with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and book written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. The musical follows the Addams family who have a love for all things spooky and weird. Their young daughter Wednesday falls in love with Lucas Beineke, who is extremely different from the Addams family. When Wednesday attempts to disguise her family and present them as “normal” to Lucas, both the characters and audience get the chance to see just how “normal” every family is. Mischief, hilarity, and musical numbers ensue in this unique and authentically beautiful musical.
Jennifer Hill-Barlow’s direction is colorful and intentional. She added playful nods to the movie which makes for a fun film-to-stage adaptation. I especially enjoyed the use of projections to play videos featuring the cast members. At times, it feels like you are in a movie theater. But Barlow brings us right back to the joys of live theatre, as some audience members have their seats right on stage and are involved many times throughout the show. This added touch truly invites the audience into the Addams family home.
Benjamin J. Henderson as Gomez is nothing short of iconic. He is an absolute standout, and Barlow’s decision to single-cast him was 1000% the right choice. Henderson has a very clear understanding of the script and comedic beats. He balances the comedy well with a tender father-daughter relationship with Wednesday.
Sylvia Henderson as Wednesday would make Krysta Rodriguez proud with her strong vocals and unique opt-ups. She made Wednesday her own, which is no easy feat when playing such a well-known role. She also brings complexity to a character who is naturally rigid and deadpan.
Christian McCleary really leans into the insanity of Lucas Beineke, which makes his performance energized and unique. His vocals are spot on, and I love that he makes subtle acting choices to match his character’s mannerisms to those of his dad, Mal Beineke. In contrast, Henderson and McCleary’s chemistry, as the dad of Lucas’ girlfriend, feels very much like a cringey middle school relationship, which gives the audience the perfect amount of secondhand embarrassment.
Ashley Gardner Carlson as Morticia is the right amount of drama and sexy. She commands the stage with a confident presence. Julia Jolley and Shawn Lynn as Alice and Mal Beineke, respectively, are so perfectly awkward and just delightful to watch as their characters develop. Joseph Paul Branca as Uncle Fester steals the show with perfectly timed improvisation and such a sweet demeanor that you just want to root for him. Bonnie Wilson Whitlock as Grandma Addams is hilariously quirky and brings so much life to the stage. Brigham Ker as Pugsley is the perfect representation of an annoying little brother and delights with his impressive high-pitched scream. Finally, Thomas Wood as Lurch brings a lot of humor and spunk to what some would say is a simple character. His beautiful singing voice at the end is simply delightful.
The ensemble is the heart of the show, as they are onstage for the entire production dancing, moving set pieces, or setting the ambiance. Even the moving of set pieces and props are beautifully choreographed and elaborate. The ensemble really elevates the entire story as they continually set the tone through their dancing and movement. Despite there being a lot of people onstage, Sayoko Knode Peterson’s choreography makes it feel like organized chaos. Peterson uses the full space of the stage well and highlights all the right pictures. Peterson also reimagined the “Full Disclosure” scene to include a game of musical chairs, which helps maintain interest and energy. Typically, all of the cast members sit at a long table during this scene, which can get incredibly stale fast. The musical chairs add another layer of movement and chaos to the scene.
The scenic design by Kacey Udy and lighting by Renee Fowler work hand in hand to create the Addams family home, which is uniquely weird and spooky. The set is constantly changing to help represent different places in the home, and the lighting helps add color to a mostly dark story. The torture device for Pugsley is always an iconic set piece, and this one for sure lived up to expectations.
La Beene’s costumes are stunning and accentuate each character’s kookiness. Beene pays homage to iconic costumes we know and love from the show while also giving the production a fresh take. Even though the Addams prefer their clothing to be black, Beene adds some intrigue to their costumes by including sparkles or interesting patterns to liven up the stage.
Bekah Wilbur’s hair and makeup design are equally elaborate and essential to the storytelling. The ancestors’ makeup is a good balance of spooky but not creepy. I appreciate that the makeup for the ancestors is unique for each actor, which brings more intrigue to the overall stage image. Typically, theaters will just paint all the ancestors white and call it a day, which forces the ensemble to just blend as one. But this unique approach allows each actor to stand out as individuals while still creating one cohesive look.
Despite my original skepticism, I was genuinely impressed by this fresh and captivating production. The Ruth reminds me that live theater has the ability to breathe new life into even the most familiar stories. The Addams Family at The Ruth is the perfect fall activity to get into the spooky, kooky mood.
MORE INFO: The Addams Family is currently playing in the Smith Grand Theater at the Ruth Theater in Pleasant Grove, (401 South Pleasant Grove Boulevard, Pleasant Grove, Utah 84062). Performances play through October 31, 2026. Tickets typically range from $23 to $79. For the most up-to-date schedule, performance details, and official ticketing, visit The Ruth’s website: https://theruth.org
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