PLYMOUTH INDEPENDENT.org – This week, Americana Theatre Company presents The Addams Family, bringing the beloved Broadway musical to the Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 ½ Court St., with a cast of 15 professional actors from both the South Shore and across the country. The production continues the company’s tradition of pairing crowd-pleasing entertainment with stories that offer something a little deeper beneath the laughs.
For artistic director Derek Martin, choosing this summer’s production was an easy decision.
“We wanted to have a family-friendly show that was both funny and had heart,” Martin said. “In the summertime in Plymouth, people seem to love musicals, comedies and murder mysteries—or some combination of all three.”
The Addams Family offers exactly that. While audiences can expect familiar characters, outrageous comedy and memorable songs, Martin believes the show’s enduring appeal lies elsewhere.
“It is a celebration of the family unit,” he said. “And it is a celebration of being unique—that having unique qualities is a massive strength and adds color to our mundane lives.”
Those themes may resonate even more strongly today. In a year marked by uncertainty and constant headlines, Martin says he sees the production as a welcome reminder that laughter—and acceptance—still matter.
“I think the show is a blast, and a little fun escapist comedy is always a good answer to difficult times.”
The cast combines eight local professional actors with seven performers from outside the region, including artists from New York City, California and Virginia. Martin himself steps into the role of Gomez Addams, while longtime Americana favorite Payton Gobeille plays Morticia. Finley Ryan Gould takes on Wednesday Addams, a role she told Martin has long been one of her dream parts.
Guiding the production is director Marianne Savell, whose experience helps balance the show’s broad comedy with genuine emotion.
“Many scenes have the cast and crew dying laughing,” Martin said. “Other scenes have drawn tears.”
Producing a Broadway musical inside the intimate Spire Center comes with challenges. Limited backstage space means elaborate scenery gives way to inventive staging and creative storytelling—an approach that Martin believes has become part of Americana’s signature style.
Since its founding in 2011, the company has grown from a four-person production staged with work lights and minimal scenery into a year-round professional theater company presenting multiple productions annually while employing dozens of actors, designers and technicians. It has also expanded its educational mission through Studio Americana.
Martin believes that growth reflects Plymouth’s own cultural evolution. “The downtown is a thriving community,” he said. “Professional theater and the arts don’t just entertain—they strengthen the community.”
As for audiences attending The Addams Family, his hopes are simple.
“I hope they laugh. I hope they hug their loved ones. And I hope they leave lifted—and bless others with the joy they’ve experienced.” Shows this week are Thursday the 16th through Saturday the 19th. For tickets or more information go here.
By Julia Marie Davis
