All-of-us Express Children’s Theatre presents The Addams Family School Edition

Spooky season might be over, but on Feb. 2-4 and 9-11, All-of-us Express Children’s Theatre is bringing the “The Addams Family” musical to the East Lansing Hannah Community Center. After a recent adaptation “Wednesday” was popular with Netflix watchers, this school edition musical offers a fresh new take on the gothic fictional family. 

Jocelyn France is the director, choreographer and music director of the upcoming production, and is in her fourth season at All-of-us Express Children’s Theatre. France dreamed of being a professional performer and has performed regionally for over 20 years. She also works for the Wharton Center and Disney Musicals in Schools as a teaching artist. France spoke about the upcoming Addams Family production.

“As far as our musical goes, it takes place with a grownup Wednesday Addams,” France said. “She is engaged to someone who is from a very neurotypical American family, not like the Addams family. This takes place years later when she is old enough to get married. The characters are all still very much the same, the only difference is we’ve got an engagement, a wedding and secrets.”

Liam VanDerHeide is a 16-year-old sophomore student at East Lansing High School who plays Gomez, the patriarch of the Addams family. He has been involved in multiple shows, with on-stage and backstage roles since he was 9 or 10 years old. VanDerHeide enjoys combining his love for playing the guitar and singing, with the audio production skills he’s learning from theater. 

“I’m not in a band, but I’ve been guest performing with quite a few people, which has been really exciting,” he said. “I’m thinking about releasing an EP in the summer, featuring me and a lot of other local musicians, including my guitar teacher/mentor and his group of people with GTG Records.”

VanDerHeide enjoys the comedic aspects the musical weaves within the family dynamic. 

“I’ve always personally loved more comedic roles,” VanDerHeide said. “Gomez is a really interesting character. While he does have a funny side, he also has a very emotional side. It’s fun to be able to do both in the same show.”

Part of All-of-us Express Children’s Theatre’s mission is to provide young people with a well-rounded resume of theater experience through their programs. 

“It’s theater for kids, by kids,” France said. “There are students on stage, but what you don’t necessarily see is the crew of students who are working backstage.”

Students also gain experience in making props, assisting with makeup and costumes, lighting and sound production, and in tech roles such as set building.  

France enjoys seeing students grow in confidence both on and off the stage. 

“One of the things that’s most exciting is seeing them grow as performers,” she said. “Being able to see where they start that first day, you might see someone who does not have tons of self-esteem or has been a part of a team or family like this before. By the time you get through the eight-week rehearsal process, to see the confidence, laughter, smiles and relationships they have formed with everybody else in the cast is great. And on top of that, being able to put on a really wonderful production, that is the icing on the cake.”

The program has several successful alumni who have gone on to study theater in college, landed big acting roles in national productions and have even begun teaching themselves.

For VanDerHeide, being involved in All-of-us Express has led to confidence in daily situations, not just under the spotlight. 

“Before my first show, I really was quite stagefright,” he said. “I still get anxiety before every show, but that’s normal. I am much more comfortable talking in front of people, with a presentation in class or playing guitar in front of people. I really have to attribute a lot of that to the theater.”

Although a bit darker than the program’s typical production, VanDerHeide said there’s still something anyone in attendance can find enjoyment in. 

“All of the characters have a different message, but I think the biggest one from my perspective of playing Gomez, is that while family can change, you can’t really change the blood bonds,” he said. “Those bonds will always be there.” 

France said the show’s takeaways are universal, applicable to all types of audiences.

“There’s this theme of being true to yourself no matter who you are in this world,” France said. “Whatever it is that brings you joy, you need to be true to yourself and find who you are.”

The musical runs Feb. 2-4, and 9-11. Showtimes are at 7 p.m. for Friday shows and 3 p.m. for Saturday and Sunday shows. The show is recommended for audience members ages 8 and up, and runs about an hour and 45 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children. Tickets are available at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, online or by phone (517-333-2580, ext. 0). 

All-of-us Express is always looking for more adult volunteers to help with concessions, ushering, merchandise, green rooms and other roles. Those interested can email Artistic Director Nina Crumpton ncrumpt@cityofeastlansing.com