By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
Get ready for some laughs, scares and music with the Upstagers’ theater group’s adaptation of “The Addams Family” at the Del Rio Civic Center on July 19.
The famous musical will be the Upstagers’ third production of
Rio Civic Center on Tuesday for their upcoming performances of the Upstagers’ adaptation of
“The Addams Family.” The musical is the Upstagers’ third production of the year with
performances on July 19, 20, 26, and 27.
2024, and they will have their performances on July 19, 20, 26 and 27.
The musical centers on the life of the title characters, including the two parents, Gomez Addams and Morticia Addams. When the eldest daughter, Wednesday Addams, announces she has fallen in love with a boy named Lucas, her parents and the rest of the family burst into chaos, worrying about the daughter’s well-being and the state of the family.
The play is being co-directed by Raquel Martine and Josue Gonzalez with dance choreography done by Diane Rodriguez. Martine said she got on board to direct the play so she could give back to the fine-arts community of Del Rio.
Martine said they have cast and crew members who are former students she and Gonzales have taught over the years when teaching at the Del Rio High School, whether it was from 30 years ago or five years ago.
“That made the job of portraying these characters that much easier because there was an instant connection with family values and family coming first,” Martine said.
Gonzalez will also be part of the cast, playing Uncle Fester. He said “The Addams Family” has been popular over the years because it is about an “unconventional family with conventional morals and values.”
“What you would see in a typical American family is what you see in “The Addams Family” with a twist of weirdness because they are inclusive and weird, but at the end of the day they are a family,” Gonzales said.
Playing the parent duo is Frank Escobedo, who plays Gomez Addams, and Lucy Van Goethem, who plays Morticia Addams.
Escobedo, who also is the current theater teacher at Del Rio High School, said performing at the Civic Center has its challenges, but it will be beneficial by having a lot of seating for guests, and being an area easy to locate and drive to.
Playing the famous daughter Wednesday Addams will be two actors: Mia Galindo and Lucero Tarango. Galindo will be performing as the character on July 19 and 26, and Tarango will be performing as the character July 20 and 27.
Prices will be $20 for adults and $15 for students, and tickets will be purchased through cash or check only.
