THE ADDAMS FAMILY Opens 3/26 at Berkeley Playhouse

Berkeley Playhouse at the historic Julia Morgan Theater continues their most acclaimed season yet, with The Addams Family. The show isdirected and choreographed by long time Berkeley Playhouse associate Kimberly Dooley (Berkeley Playhouse's Mary Poppins, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Wiz, Suessical the Musical.). Previews begin March 24. The show runs from March 26 to April 17 at the Julia Morgan Theater, 2640 College Ave in Berkeley, CA. Tickets are now available through the Box Office. Please call (510) 845-8542 x351 or visit berkeleyplayhouse.org.

Charles Addams would submit his first cartoon to The New Yorker in 1931. But it would be his introduction in 1938 of a lithe, dark beauty who would be known as Morticia that would lead to one of the most recognizable fictional families in history. A series of print cartoons would be followed by a a television show in the 60's, two movies in the 90's, and now a Broadway Musical with a brand new story.

And the whole family is back. Gomez, Morticia, Puglsey, Wednesday, Uncle Fester, Grandma and Lurch are "alive" and well and living in Central Park. But even by the perpetually macabre Addam's standards, daughter Wednesday has done the scariest thing imaginable - she's grown up! She's also fallen in love and guess who's coming to dinner? Can she talk the Addams into being "normal" for one night to impress her new boyfriend's parents?

But the story is so much more. Says Founding Artistic Director, Elizabeth McKoy, "The Addams family celebrates our unique differences while asking important questions such as: What is a normal family? And, how can expressing honesty allow us to fully love one another? Through hilarious characters and a spicy and lush musical score, this story helps us laugh at our fears and connect to life in unexpected ways. It's the perfect family musical." Dooley agreed, "It's family first and family last. Everything starts and ends with love and loyalty of family."

Dooley's creative team includes: Musical Direction by Michael Patrick Wiles (Bay Area Children's Theater, Center REP, Contra Costa Civic Theatre, San Francisco Opera Guild, San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, The Willows Theater); Set Design by Kirsten Royston; Lighting Design by Mark Thomas (Berkeley Playhouse, Barry Manilow at the Las Vegas Hilton, Teatro ZinZanni, State of Grace - a collaboration with visual artist Anne Patterson at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, Letter from Birmingham Jail with Anna Deavere Smith); and Costume Design by Lisa Danz.

THE CAST: The cast of 21 will be headed by Taylor Barolucci (Berkeley Playhouse: Hairspray! [Velma Von Tussle]; other credits include The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical [Darlene], Bottle Shock The Musical, in Concert [Jo], The Full Monty [Vicki], The Secret Garden [Martha], Bonnie and Clyde[Bonnie], Funny Girl [Fanny Brice], Gypsy [Mama Rose]) as Morticia Addams; Alex Rodriguez(Berkeley Playhouse: You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown [Snoopy], Mary Poppins [Bert]. National Tour: Miss Saigon. Bay Area credits: Evita [Che - TBA Award], Cabaret [The Emcee], Guys and Dolls [Nicely Nicely] with Broadway By the Bay; Triassic Parq [Morgan Freeman/Velociraptor of Science - TBA Award], with Ray of Light; Rent [Angel - Shellie Award nomination] and A Chorus Line [Paul - Shellie Award Nomination] with Contra Costa Music Theatre) as Gomez Addams, Chelsea Holifield (Berkeley Playhouse's Hairspray! [Amber]); Rocky Horror Show(Janet) with Ray of Light Theatre) as Wednesday; Samuel Leeper (Contra Costa Musical Theatre, Woodminster, Awesome Theater SF, Masquers Playhouse, Tri-Valley Rep, Stage 1, ATC, and Las Positas Performing Arts) as Lucas Beineke; Nick Quintell (last seen at Berkeley Playhouse inThe 25th Annual Putnam CountySpelling Bee [William Barfee]; Heathers the Musical [Ram Sweeney] with Ray of Light Theatre; James and the Giant Peach with Bay Area Children's Theatre/Shanghai Children's Theatre [Centipede]; Les Miserables [Lesgles] with Woodminster; Guys and Dolls [Nicely Nicely Johnson] with Diablo Theatre Company; and Beauty and the Beast [Cogsworth] with Tri-Valley Rep) as Uncle Fester;Sandi Weldon (last seen at Berkeley Playhouse in The Music Man [Mrs. Paroo]) as Grandma; Brian Watson (last seen a Berkeley Playhouse in Avenue Q [Brian]; other credits include: Mary Poppins [Bert],Les Miserables [Enjolras], Inventing van Gogh [Vincent van Gogh], Lend Me a Tenor [Max], Legally Blonde[Emmett], Damn Yankees [Applegate], and Chess in Concert [Molokov]) as Mal Beineke; Tielle Baker(TheatreWorks, CenterREP, Diablo Theatre Company, Playhouse West, 42nd Street Moon, and Belasco Theatre Co., The Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall) as Alice Beineke. Pugsley Addams will be played at alternating performances by Ezra Gaskin (Berkeley Playhouse: Lucky Duck) and Jonah Rotenberg thrilled (The Addams Family [Pugsley Addams] with Contra Costa Civic Theatre, Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck [Sasha Herzen] with Shotgun Players). Also in the cast: Cameron Adrien La Brie, Patrick Brewer, Danila Burshteyn, Elizabeth Cox, Aubri No-eau Kahalekulu, Melissa Martinez, David Murphy, Allison Paraiso, Samantha Pistoresi, Daniel Barrington Rubio, Maurice Andre San-Chez.

BERKELEY PLAYHOUSE: Berkeley Playhouse was founded in 2007 by professional theatre actor, director, and teacher for over 25 years, Elizabeth McKoy. With the rapid growth of the company, the Board of Directors brought on Producing Artistic Director Daren A.C. Carollo and Director of Education Rachel Eisner to collaborate with McKoy and continue Berkeley Playhouse's development into a professional musical theatre providing our community with a unique and sophisticated experience. Additionally, Berkeley Playhouse offers a range of skill and performance based theatre training for young actors through our thriving School of Musical Theatre. In 2009, Berkeley Playhouse made the historic Julia Morgan Theater its permanent home.