Natchez Little Theatre, a charitable non-profit volunteer organization and Mississippi’s oldest community theater celebrating 85 years of entertainment proudly presents “The Addams Family” Aug. 17-20. The production is an adaption of the popular 1960s TV comedy series, “The Addams Family,” which became a cult favorite for the past 50-plus years.

The TV series began in 1964 and ran for two seasons ending in 1966. It starred Carolyn Jones as Morticia, John Astin as Gomez, Jackie Coogan as Uncle Fester, Ted Cassidy as Pugsley and Blossom Rock as Wednesday.

They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious, and spooky, and altogether OOKY! “The Addams Family,” America’s first family of ghastly giddiness, are here at Natchez Little Theatre in all their ghoulish glory as in the original TV series based on the delightfully demented imagination of Charles Addams. Tarantulas, torture racks, and tombstones have never been so much fun! Join Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, Uncle Fester, Lurch, Grandma Addams and the rest of the dead Addams ancestors for a fiendishly funny and altogether kooky experience.

So, get your witches shawl on, a broomstick you can crawl on, and fly on over to Natchez Little Theatre at 319 Linton Ave. at Maple Street in historic Natchez.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday evenings and at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets are $15 and should be reserved in advance due to early ticket sales. For reservations, call NLT at 601-442-2233, toll free at 877-440-2233 or avoid the box office line by pre-purchasing your tickets securely online  at natcheztheatre.org as over 100 advance ticket buyers already have.

“The Addams Family” is set in modern day with the children, Wednesday and Pugsley older. In fact, Wednesday has a normal boyfriend and she has asked him and his normal mid-western parents to her family’s home for dinner. Hilariously, it is on the evening that the dead Addams ancestors rise from the grave for their annual family reunion.

I am thrilled to direct this talented cast! The cast of NLT award-winning veterans with numerous stage debuts. Starring as Morticia Addams is Katie Adams of Jonesville in her NLT debut, and as her husband, Gomez, is multi-award-winning NLT actor, Rusty Jenkins. Award winning NLT Youth actress, Hannah Hargis, stars as Wednesday Addams and as Pugsley Addams, the young Addams son, in his NLT stage debut, is Jackson Adams of Jonesville and son of Katie and  Johnny Adams.

Award-winning NLT actor, Bo Allen, portrays Uncle Fester; Derek Saxon portrays Lurch, the zombie butler, and Nicole Harris in her NLT stage debut plays Grandma Addams with the best brew of potions in town!

As Wednesday’s boyfriend, Lucas Beineke, is Micah Riggs of Ridgecrest. Playing the role of his parents from Ohio are Myla Waddill of Natchez as Alice and in his NLT stage debut Johnny Adams of Jonesville as Mal.

The remainder of the cast are the dead Addams ancestors portrayed by veterans and newcomers alike — Devin Arnold, Ginny Borum, Stacey Carden, Andrea Cater, El Day, Addison Laird, Lynn Mann, Janet McNeely, Julia Richardson and Jonathan Rosso.

The sets were designed by myself and Jennifer Rosso, who beautifully executed and decorated the sets as she did for Disney’s “The Jungle Book.”

Serving as my assistant director and stage manager will be Lynn Mann with assistance from Janet McNeely.

This is hilarious family entertainment and will have you rolling in the aisles.  So, don’t miss it!

Hope to see you at “The Addams Family!”
Layne Taylor is  the Natchez Little Theatre artistic and executive director and the director of “The Addams Family.”