When long-time friends Jamie Cassidy and Jenny Robinson first thought about auditioning for BCT's  (Buffalo Community Theater) summer musical,  The Addams Family, neither of them were very sure about it.   

 

“We knew the characters from TV and movies and thought it could be fun way to spend part of the summer,” said Robinson. “But then we got our hands on the script - and we loved it!” 

 

Cassidy agrees.  

 

“What a great show,” he said. “It's funny, it's touching, it has great music!”

 

The two discussed the challenges of playing the well-known couple and talked about how much fun it would be if they were cast as Morticia and Gomez — and as it turns out — that's exactly what happened.  Their friendship and comfort with each other is serving them well as they tango, dip and charm their way through BCT's  upcoming production.

 

“The script is hilarious, but so much more,” Cassidy says.   

 

“What I didn't expect was how moving it is and how much I identify with Morticia,” says Robinson.  “She's a wife and mom and her kids are growing up, making life choices and leaving home.”  

 

Cassidy loves that the character of Gomez has such a full range of emotions.  

 

“He's a funny, passionate man, but tender too.  We're really excited about bringing these characters to life,” he said.

 

A great balance of humor and heart isn't what audiences will expect, but it's what they'll get when the show opens in just over a week at the Buffalo High School Performing Arts Center.  

 

Performances are July 22, 23, 28-30 at 7:30 p.m. and July 24 at 2 pm.  Tickets are on sale now from the BCT website at:  bctmn.org and will also be sold at the door.

 

Since it wouldn't be summer in Minnesota without road construction to provide new challenges to theater goers, BCT encourages patrons to allow plenty of extra time to navigate the detour out to the high school (due to the roundabout going in at Co. Rds 35 and 134)  and promises that the extra drive will be well worth it.

 

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Central MN Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.