Tips for Auditioning for “The Addams Family” Without Turning It Into a Cartoon
by Chris Peterson
The Addams Family musical walks a strange and wonderful line. It is spooky, yes, but it is also romantic. It is offbeat and theatrical, but underneath the costumes and gags, it is a story about love, loyalty, and letting people grow. The best auditions do not come from people doing impressions. They come from actors who find the humanity in the weirdness, and the heart in the comedy.
Here’s how to bring your own voice into the room and still honor the world of the show. Let’s talk about the characters.
Gomez Addams
Gomez is passion personified. He lives big, loves deeply, and feels everything with full-body commitment. His accent is less important than his energy. “Trapped” is all about conflict — he’s stuck between his daughter and his wife, two people he adores. Your job is to show that split. Bring charm, but don’t coast on it. Gomez’s big emotions are what make him funny. His vulnerability is what makes him lovable. He has to be the heartbeat of the show, with swagger and soul in equal measure.
Morticia Addams
Morticia is cool, controlled, and impossibly elegant — until she feels that control slipping. Underneath the poise is a woman who fears being replaced, ignored, or forgotten. Her stillness is powerful, but her breakdown in “Just Around the Corner” needs to feel earned. Do not play her as cold. Play her as composed, with stakes brewing just beneath the surface. She is not just the matriarch. She is the emotional mirror of the show. Grace and confidence are key, but so is honesty.
Wednesday Addams
This is not the monotone child from the movies. This is a full-grown Wednesday on the edge of adulthood, and she is feeling things she cannot explain. “Pulled” is her tug-of-war between what she was raised to love and what she is starting to desire. Your job is to show that internal struggle without losing her sharp edge. She is tough, smart, and sarcastic, but she also wants to be understood. Let her longing peek through the darkness. She should be funny, but never a punchline.
Uncle Fester
Fester is part clown, part narrator, part hopeless romantic. His energy is bright, light, and slightly unhinged. “The Moon and Me” is a love song played for laughs, but it still needs to come from a place of real affection. The audience needs to root for him, not just laugh at him. If you’re auditioning for Fester, lean into your physicality, your oddness, and your warmth. This role lives in the space between the jokes. Make him feel like a real person who just happens to be glowing.
Pugsley Addams
Pugsley is jealous, sneaky, and delightfully weird. But he’s also a little boy who’s scared of being left behind. “What If” is more than a comic song. It’s a cry for attention. Pugsley loves his sister in the twisted way siblings do, and her growing up feels like a betrayal. This part is a gift for young actors who can balance humor and honesty. If you can sell the joke and still break our heart a little, you’ve nailed it.
Lurch
Lurch has very few lines, but every moment counts. He is the quiet observer, the reliable presence, and the unexpected punchline. The final moment where he speaks can steal the entire show if played with timing and surprise. If you’re going for Lurch, focus on posture, timing, and listening. Stillness is your strength. Do not rush the comedy. Let the silence work for you.
Alice Beineke
Alice starts proper and pleasant, speaking in rhymes and keeping things polite. But underneath the surface, she is aching for more. “Waiting” is a turning point where the mask cracks and the real Alice comes out. If you are auditioning for Alice, do not play her as prim. Play her as someone who has been performing that primness for years. When she finally lets loose, it should feel electric. Her transformation is the most fun in the show — but it has to feel earned.
Mal Beineke
Mal is a father who’s forgotten how to feel. He is practical, stoic, and quietly frustrated with the world around him. But he is not a villain. He is a man out of touch with who he used to be. His journey is one of softening. The humor comes from his discomfort. The heart comes from the moment he remembers who he really is. If you can show us both, you are on the right track.
Lucas Beineke
Lucas walks into the Addams house as a fish out of water — but he also holds his own. He is not bland. He is not weak. He is someone willing to stand up for what he wants. His duet with Wednesday needs to show real connection. Do not play Lucas as a prop. He has to be a full character with his own spine, his own wants, and his own ability to meet the Addams world on equal footing.
The Ancestors
If you are in the ensemble, you are not filler. Each ancestor has a personality, a backstory, and a style. You might be a flapper, a bride, a caveman, or a pirate. Create a full character and commit to the period. You are part of the fabric of the show. Your reactions, movement, and focus matter in every scene. Directors notice when ensemble actors build characters that feel alive, even without lines.
Every character in The Addams Family is a little heightened, but none of them are hollow. Treat them like real people with strange habits, not cartoons in wigs. If you find the heart under the humor, you will not only land the role — you will bring it to life.