As the house lights dimmed, the classic melody of the Addams Family theme song echoed through the auditorium’s pit, performed by the CSUN orchestra. Audience members snapped their fingers to the tune, ready for the spooky, but kooky performance.

Based on characters created by Larry Hochman, with the book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, “The Addams Family Musical” brought out everyone’s darkest and lovable sides.

The musical, presented by CSUN’s Theatre Department, was directed by Garry Lennon and Luke Arthur Smith. It followed the story of a grown-up Wednesday Addams (played by Ronni Hinch) who falls in love with a sweet young man from a respectable family, whom her parents have never met. Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Gomez Addams (played by Trinidad James Sandoval) must keep his promise and withhold any information from his wife, Morticia. On this fateful night, everything will change for the family as they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his family.

It’s been 88 years since the world was introduced to the Addams Family, morphing through every medium and becoming the most successfully adapted characters in entertainment history. In the playbill, Lennon recalled his appeal for the beloved family emerging from the well-known sitcom.

“As a child, I remember the sitcom version and envied the house, the animals and the fun they had,” Lennon said. “They were a family that clearly loved each other but had peculiar tastes and hobbies.”

He explained how the sitcom’s unconventional narrative dominated the airwaves, blending horror, unconditional love and eccentricity. “What’s not to like?” Lennon added.

These characters evoke the ooky, spooky and kooky in everyone. They also teach a lesson on the importance of family, loving one another and embracing one’s weirdest side. The musical was definitely bizarre in the best way possible. It was a blend of dark and sitcom humor that immerses viewers into this peculiar, inescapable world.

Laughter and various reactions filled the room during comedic moments, such as Gomez breaking the fourth wall during “Four Things,” Uncle Fester’s (played by Kevin Boecher) full disclosure of his infatuation with the moon and Lurch’s hilarious grunts and groans.

Silence and cheers also engulfed the Little Theatre during Morticia and the ancestors’ elegant dance number in “Secrets,” Wednesday’s outstanding ballads and vocals, as well as Gomez and Morticia’s sensual tango performance.

Additionally, scenes like Lucas Beineke professing his love for Wednesday by blindfolding her and shooting a crossbow at the apple on his head had audiences on the edge of their seats.

Even the chemistry and character development between Alice and Mal Beineke (played by Ashlyn Boots and Elias Sasvin) had audiences rooting for their characters.

Graduating Senior Hanna Brown, who played Morticia Addams, had recently transitioned to musical theater last year and knew she wanted to audition for her character from the start.

“It’s the freaking Addams Family. I mean, they’re iconic,” Brown said.

She explained how she loved the creative team from last spring’s production of “Matilda the Musical” and felt compelled to work with them again.

Brown expressed the difficulty of portraying a character that’s heavily recognized through previous depictions played by Anjelica Huston and Carolyn Jones, but strived for that challenge as an actor.

“People have a very strict idea of her, and I really wanted that challenge as an actor,” Brown said. “I also, in a lot of weird ways, resonate with her, and I thought, ‘This has got to be it,’ because it’s my senior show.”

She delved more into the challenge of portraying Morticia’s elegant stillness while also performing high-energy musical numbers.

She explained that characters like Morticia and Wednesday are put into positions audiences wouldn’t normally see them in. Brown had to focus on working from the inside out to connect with her character.

“It was definitely a challenge because she is known for that elegance and airiness, but she’s being put in a situation where I had to be like, ‘What does Morticia look like when she’s hurt, betrayed and angry,’” Brown said.

She acknowledged that these aren’t typically what viewers see in sitcoms and movies, but shared her technique of “working from the inside out and focusing on energy.”

The creative collaboration is what made this musical stand out. Lennon expressed after the Thursday performance during a Q&A that it takes a lot to support a big production such as this. A wide variety of staff and crew worked together alongside the cast and the director to help bring the show to life.

“It was all kind of making sure we’re all having the same conversation and on the same page in how we’re approaching the material,” Lennon said.

Chase Larsen, the understudy of Lurch, expressed during the Q&A the challenging but enjoyable experience of portraying an emote, mute character who excessively groans.

“A lot of the exploration process was from working with Gabe – in what I call overstudy, because I’m the understudy of Lurch – to create this Lurch that is kind, gentle and sincere but only through the face and physical movements,” Larsen said.

Larsen further said that the process involved creative exploration of physical movement and choices.

“The Addams Family Musical” taught a valuable lesson about the importance of family and unconditional love, highlighting how normalcy is overrated and weirdness should be embraced.

The production concluded its final show on Sunday, May 3, but its memorable direction and performances by the cast and crew brought goosebumps to those whose hearts were touched by this spectacular musical.