A new generation is getting acquainted with the creepy and kooky Addams family through Stage One Youth Theatre’s latest production.

“The Addams Family Musical” Young@Part Edition, which opens Friday, Sept. 18, features an original story with a dilemma described as every dad’s nightmare.

Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family — a man her parents have never met. And, Wednesday begs her dad not to tell her mother.

Stage One Youth Theatre’s Wednesday Addams (Lotus McAdams) and her dad, Gomez (Trace Lewis) rehearse before “The Addams Family” opens Friday, Sept. 18. Supplied photo by Teresa Smoker

Everything changes on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.

RCT staff say the Addams family humorously resonates with audiences because it embraces the wackiness in every family.

Ryan Shaw, Stage One’s managing director who is co-directing this show, said he’s enjoyed working on this production with his “amazing” team.

Shaw and this show’s choreographer, Tammy Cornell, played ancestors in RCT’s Main Stage version of “Addams Family” about 10 years ago.

“It’s always been one of my favorites,” Shaw said.

Co-director Jackson Thompson and assistant director Ethan Bain are former Stage One students who are stepping into directing roles and teaching the next generation. 

Seats for RCT’s school-day productions are filled.

If you go

  • What: Stage One Youth Theatre’s “The Addams Family Musical”
  • When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays/Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 18-20 and Sept. 25-27
  • Where: Richmond Civic Theatre, 1003 E. Main St., Richmond.
  • Cost: Adults, $15; seniors and students, $11
  • Box office: gorct.org or 765-962-1816

Who’s part of the show?

  • Cast: Trace Lewis, Amelie Hymans, Allister Bergfield, Lotus McAdams*, Draven Roberts, Rileigh Kamps*, Wyatt Keir*, Lilah Jurgens, Jai Thompson, Luke Miller*, Maya Hamilton*, Dawson Jurgens, Arianna Stevenson, Alivia Leyes*, Ben Counts, Zara Hazelbaker, Adeliena Burket, Isabella Solis, Ian Staifer, Norah Staifer, Gabe Kaehr, Lily Kaehr, Jovie Allen, Lexi Allen, Anna Bergfield, Emmett Yingst, Marley Lahman, Charleigh Kamps, Lillyan Frame*, Giselle Bailey, Kennedy Carpenter, William Mann, Amelia Mitchell, Madeleine Edwards, Lilly Haney, Topanga Stingley, Mauzy Bottorff, Serenity Moberly, Caleb Norris
  • Production team: Ryan Shaw, Jackson Thompson, Jarrod Davis, Tammy Bertsch, Barb Blanford, Pam Fraizer, Amber Daggy, Crystal Hernandez, Christian Johnson, Aaron Clarke
  • Crew: Tammy Bertsch, Josh Smith, Melissa Smith, Penny Smith, Syrus Stohler, Lilli Girdley, Ben Sexton, Sean Andreas, Leo Davis, Devin Summan, Hadley Ward, Veronica Panina, Allison Blanford, Sky Smith, Crystal Hernandez, Julie Pickett, Andrea Marsh, Amy Vance, Brinley Vance, Cailene Webster, Charity Davis, Gabi Benns, Olivia Hawkins, Sophia Bergfield, Rowan Bailey, Lori Staifer, Traci McCollum, Chamaea Edwards, Cassidy Ballin, Ryan Shaw, Lori Current, Whitney Kaehr, Ben Counts, Pam Fraizer, Nicole Andreas, Zeke Andreas, Aure Andreas, Anna Bergfield, Allister Bergfield, Norah Staifer, Ian Staifer, Maya Hamilton, Emily Kendall, Frankie Kendall, Winnie Kendall, Maddie Edwards, Amelia Mitchell, Mickey White, Amy Decker, Adrian Christie, Paul Jordan

*Denotes a Stage One senior

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A version of this article will appear in the September 16 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.

Millicent Martin Emery is a reporter and editor for the Western Wayne News.