EL DORADO — “The Addams Family, A New Musical Comedy” is in full swing at the South Arkansas Arts Center this week, with opening weekend a huge success.
The musical will also be presented at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the SAAC, 110 E. Fifth St. The box office is open and there are still a few tickets left to see “this hilarious musical that is getting rave reviews from audiences,” said Susan Harper at the arts center. “One of the reasons why this show is such a huge success is due to the visiting artists that are an important part of the cast,” she said.=
SAAC is playing host to three talented dancers who are helping teach and rehearse the actors for this show. The full-time performers have all worked with director Monroe Moore in the past and he was instrumental in bringing them to El Dorado and the SAAC.
They all met in Lubbock, Texas, while working on a production of “Tarzan, The Musical.” The three of them have very diverse backgrounds, but have been brought together by their love for theatre and dance, she said.
Dance captain, Zach Gamet, is in charge of the choreography and all dance rehearsals. He also stars at Lucas Beineke in “The Addams Family.”
“Monroe and I have a similar work ethic and, therefore, work well together. We both are highly focused and enjoy our work tremendously,” Gamet said. He graduated from Texas Christian University in 2013, where he focused on theater and dance. He auditioned after graduation for Carnival Cruise line and was hired as a dancer and aerialist. He has worked for the line off and on and loves getting to see the world, save money and do what he most enjoys – dancing. Gamet said he is thrilled to have been able to visit the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Canada and Asia. He also enjoys teaching the art of dance and doing industrial work for companies – providing entertainment in between speakers or presentations during conventions.
Shannon Lynn Blakely, who portrays the Courtesan Ancestor in “The Addams Family,” began her path to dance at the age of 3, continuing on to dance competitions during her middle and high school years. She attended Chapman University for two years as a dance major and then East Carolina University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in dance performance.
“Dance has always been my forte and my love,”, she said, “but to be a ‘triple threat’ in the entertainment business, you need to sing and act, as well.” She has worked on cruise ships, also, and has recently acted in the movie, “Baywatch,” due out in May and “Nightmare Next Door,”, a murder mystery for television.
Alexander Domingue, from Houston, Texas, has been acting since he was 5 and stars as the Cowboy Ancestor in “The Addams Family.” He was bitten by the acting bug in middle school and began taking drama classes in and out of school. One of his first acting jobs was as Young Simba in “The Lion King.” Domingue said he loves working on cruise ships, as well, and is looking forward to a future in TV and movies. He most recently worked on a show for the Discovery Channel before coming to El Dorado. Domingue said, “Seeing Carmelo Brown, who plays Pugsley, reminds me of me when I was his age – loving being on stage and all.”
The visiting artists said they have loved their time in El Dorado and have been impressed by the sense of community here.
Blakely said, “El Dorado has been very hospitable to us and very welcoming.” They also have been surprised by the professional way that the local actors have stepped up to the plate as far as rehearsals go. “Our rehearsals for a show usually are two to four weeks long, so a three-week rehearsal schedule has been fine for us. But it is a pretty short time for community theater actors to perfect dances and a whole musical. The people here have done an amazing job,” said Domingue.
“Theatre is a collaborative art”, said Gamet. “The actors have been taking it so seriously and working their tails off. If you are eager to learn, it gives me more to teach. As dance captain, that’s what I appreciate so much about this cast. We are all here to make this the best show possible,” he said.
“The Addams Family, A New Musical Comedy” is being sponsored by SAMA Healthcare, Teague Auto Group and Southern Bancorp. Reservations can be made by calling the SAAC office at 870-862-5474 or visiting the SAAC at 110 E. Fifth St., El Dorado.