Hey DSM Fans!

13-year-old Cleveland native, Patrick D. Kennedy, is just a normal kid who happens to be part of the National Touring cast of THE ADDAMS FAMILY. As the not-so-normal Pugsley Addams, Patrick gets to play with explosives, embrace an iguana and enjoy the Addams’ torture rack on a nightly basis!  In his dressing room, Patrick shows us Pugsley’s cigar and receives a quick visit from Pippa Pearthree still sporting her Grandma Addams makeup.  He’s practically Pugsley’s angelic alter-ego.  Attentive and sincere, Patrick is nothing short of professional both onstage and off.

Haley and Patrick D. Kennedy

Haley: How old were you when you started performing?

Patrick: I guess I got my start when I was about 8, in a high school production of LES MISÉRABLES.

H: I heard your sister recommended you for the part, is that true?

P: I guess… I don’t know, I just went in to audition! They were already in rehearsals and stuff and I was sitting on the couch watching TV and she was like, “Patrick you’re gonna audition for a musical.”  She knew I liked to sing by myself, but I didn’t like singing in front of people.

H: So the audition was your first time to sing in front of people, was it scary?

P: At first.  But then I realized you can’t see anyone because the lights are so bright!

H: Do you have a favorite part of your show, THE ADDAMS FAMILY?

P: There’s a scene in the beginning of the show when I’m on a torture rack and Cortney Wolfson who plays Wednesday is singing a song called “Pulled” about how her new boyfriend is pulling her into a new direction but she’s not sure if she likes it or if her family can accept it. So during the whole thing when she sings “pulled” she pulls a lever, and my arms and my legs get stretched out.

H: And how exactly does that work?

P: There’s a bicycle seat.  I’ll be sitting on the bicycle seat and my arms and legs are attached to the chains and the chains have weights on the back, so as soon as I move my arms a bit, the weights just take over.  And the weights aren’t that heavy they’re just heavy enough to move my arms and then I can pull them back in.

H: I’ve noticed that your song, “What If” is kind of a crowd favorite. What’s it like to be onstage all alone singing that beautiful song?

P: I think it’s strange, but it’s really fun because my character is singing about IF his sister will ever torture him again. And then half way through he realizes that he can do all that stuff himself, but it wouldn’t be the same without his sister.

H: And you have sisters, so you understand…

P: Yes, I have three older sisters.

H: I know you like basketball- if you could play in the NBA, what team would you play for?

P: Cleveland Cavaliers

H: Have you been across the street to the State Fair of Texas yet?

P: I went to get a Fletcher’s Corn Dog.  It was good.  There was a big, huge line for it though! And I ate some fried food- try the fried smores!

H: What’s the most played song on your iPod right now?

P: Umm… I have nothing but musicals on my iPod!

H: Do you have a favorite soundtrack at the moment?

P: I like BONNIE AND CLYDE and I like CARRIE

H: BONNIE AND CLYDE is my favorite right now too, so we have that in common!

Do you have a dream role?

P: There’s a lot!  BOOK OF MORMON, maybe…  playing Elder Price – that would be fun.  Or maybe something in BIG.

H: Do you have any idols or role models?

P: I guess some of the [Addams Family] cast members because of their previous history with shows.

H: I bet you learn a lot from them…

P: Oh yes.

H: Do you have any pre-show rituals?

P: I have handshakes with people before the show.  And Blake Hammond, who plays Uncle Fester, he teaches me stage fighting.  So before every show we fake-slap each other.  And Pippa Pearthree and I try to scare each other… the score now is 7-me 4 ½ -her.

H: Okay, I have to ask… Were YOU in the “Being Part of Newsies” video? Because I love that video!

P: Yes, I was.  That was all done by Jonathan Ritter and Victoria Huston-Elem. They started it when the tour first opened in November and they came up with the idea because when we were in New York rehearsing, the cast of NEWSIES was rehearsing downstairs from us and so we got to know them. That was so much fun to do!  The main part of it that was set backstage was done at the Kennedy Center because we were there for three weeks.  And other parts were shot in Atlanta and Pittsburgh so parts of it were shot all over and pulled together in the video. It took a lot of organizing!

H: And finally, do you have any advice for young actors looking to follow in your Broadway footsteps?

P: Just try! There’s always a chance at everything.  Just do your best, you never know what’s gonna happen.

 THE ADDAMS FAMILY is on stage now through October 21st!

-DSM Haley

Hey DSM Fans!

Tomorrow begins our 3rd and Final week of THE ADDAMS FAMILY! We can’t believe that the show is almost over – just 8 more performances left!

In honor of THE ADDAMS FAMILY and with Halloween just around the corner, we wanted to kick off this week with a screamingly fun celebration of this family’s favorite haunted holiday. We asked Wednesday, Lurch, Gomez, Grandma, and Fester what their top scary flick pick was. Check out what they had to say!

WEDNESDAY: “A recent series that scares the daylights out of me has to be the Twilight saga. Fang-free vampires that produce more swoons than screams? *shudder* It makes my blood run cold…”

LURCH: “errruuggghhh…Wolf Man…ururhghg…hooooowwwwwlllll…urururghgh….”

GOMEZ: “Every Halloween, we have a scary movie marathon at the Addams abode. This year’s line up: Sleepless in Seattle, Serendipity, You’ve Got Mail, and horror of horrors, Pretty Woman.”

GRANDMA: “I’ll always have a soft spot for Bela Lugosi. We had a little fling when he stared on the Broadway production of Dracula in 1927. The scariest of the lot would have to be his later work with Ed Wood.

FESTER: “I’m a fan of all Halloween movies, because so much revolves around the pull of my lunar love, The Moon. Werewolves howl to her. Vampires will be toast under the sun’s harsh rays. It all leaves me glowing!”

*What’s your favorite scary flick pick? Leave your comment below!

Have you seen THE ADDAMS FAMILY yet? If so, make sure you comment on our Facebook page or give us a quick tweet here – we want to know what you think! Haven’t seen THE ADDAMS FAMILY yet? If not, it’s not too late! For tickets and more information, visit www.dallassummermusicals.org.

Have a miserable Monday.

-DSM Amanda

Hey DSM Fans!

Ghost Light:  A single bulb that stands onstage and remains on at all times.  It’s a safety precaution for the first person entering or the last to leave a dark theater.  While it serves a practical purpose, the ghost light gets its name from a popular theatrical superstition.  Legend tells us that every theater has a ghost, and the ghost light wards off these spirits known for causing mischief in the dark.  Some say this ritual dates all the way back to the Shakespearean era, when a candle was left burning to rid the theater of spirits from a previous performance.

In honor of the 2012 State Fair musical, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, the Music Hall is currently home to an exclusive display of original props from the set of the 1960s TV series, The Addams Family!

I’m a sucker for a good ghost story, so all of the spooky décor just adds fuel to the fire of my ghostly thoughts.  It’s hard not to consider the possibility of supernatural activity here in the 87-year-old Music Hall at Fair Park…

I wanted answers.  Although my expectations were low, I asked staff members if they had any tales of a potential Music Hall Phantom.  Surprisingly, the response was better than I had anticipated!  Some employees shared word-of-mouth tales and others brought up unusual cases of moved or missing desk items. However, I received two very creepy (and very genuine) first-person accounts of paranormal encounters here at the Music Hall.

DSM President, Michael Jenkins:

[It was 1:30 in the morning, and Michael was working late.  The bathroom adjacent to his office has two doors, one in his office and one out in the hall.]  “It’s around 1:30 am and I heard this bathroom doorknob turn. …Keep in mind these are pretty heavy doors…  Since this door in my office was closed, I stepped into the hall and went around the corner to check the other bathroom door, but it was closed too.  Initially I thought, ‘Well, I can’t just open the door to check it out… there might be someone in there!’  So I walked back down the hall, into my office and I sat down at my desk.  Seconds later, I heard that heavy door SLAM shut. I immediately said to myself, ‘I’m out of here.’ And I left!”

DSM’s IT Manager, Shawn:

The servers were down, and Shawn was working on them in the wee hours of the morning.  He heard the sound of a door and thought it was an engineer.  Shawn peeked out of his office and saw a short, bald man dressed in white rounding the corner at the end of the hall.  Confused, Shawn called out to him but the man didn’t answer.  He just passed through the doorway at the end of the hall, closing the door behind him.  Shawn followed the man and tried to open the door, but it was locked.  He quickly unlocked and opened the door, only to find a dark hallway and no sign of the man in white. Shawn assured me that he was never a believer in the supernatural until this moment, and after this encounter he found himself walking a bit faster through the Music Hall’s sometimes too-quiet corridors.

At this point in time, Dallas Summer Musicals does not have a ghost light but it certainly sounds like we could use one!

Planning to attend the State Fair? Don’t forget to pay DSM a visit!  If you enter through the fair’s Front Gate, just make a sharp right and come by the Music Hall to check out our FREE display of The Addams Family props and to purchase your ADDAMS FAMILY tickets.  If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the Music Hall Phantom!

THE ADDAMS FAMILY is on stage now through October 21st!

Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter

-DSM Haley

Hello DSM Fans!

It’s week 4 of our family fun in honor of Wednesday Addams getting married! In celebration of this joyous (and kooky) event, we have had contests, giveaways, and/or exclusive discounts right here on our blog every Wednesday of this month! Be sure to subscribe to the blog to make sure you don’t miss anything! (To subscribe, go to the right of the blog then just enter your e-mail and make sure to confirm it!)

We wanted to announce the winners of our week 3 trivia contest! Congratulations to Mauricio Dominguez, Avery Arnold, and Ericka Berry – you have won 2 tickets to see THE ADDAMS FAMILY on October 2nd at 8pm! Look for an e-mail from me with the full details.

Thank you to everyone who have participated in our previous 3 contests!

Today, this Wednesday Addams’ Contest will not be a contest, but an EXCLUSIVE 1-DAY ONLY Discount!   Get 25% off tickets to THE ADDAMS FAMILY for the Tuesday – Friday evening performances in price levels 2-5! Just click here and use the password DSMBLG (all caps) when purchasing tickets. This discount is only available to DSM Fans and TODAY ONLY! (Discount will be active beginning today, September 26th at 10:00am through tomorrow morning, September 27th at 9:59am.) HURRY – YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS THIS DISCOUNT! Just click here and use the password DSMBLG!

We’re getting so excited about THE ADDAMS FAMILY – just 6 days away!

-DSM Amanda

A very un-happy miserable Monday to you, DSM Fans.
(We’re getting in the mood for THE ADDAMS FAMILY around here.)

Did you know THE ADDAMS FAMILY – THE BROADWAY MUSICAL was inspired by the original cartoons? Below is an article about the original creator of what we know and love today as THE ADDAMS FAMILY.

The musical The Addams Family is inspired by the creations of the legendary American cartoonist Charles Addams, who lived from 1912 until 1988. In 1933, when he was just 21, his work was published in The New Yorker, and over the course of nearly six decades, he became one of the magazine’s most cherished contributors. (For a few of his cartoons, see the slideshow at the bottom of this post.)

Bizarre, macabre and weird are all words that have been used to describe Charles Addams’ cartoons. Yet adjectives such as charming, enchanting and tender can just as accurately be employed to depict the same body of work, as well as the man himself. His unique style and wonderfully crafted cartoons enabled his work to transcend such dichotomies for his millions of fans worldwide.

Charles Addams is most widely known for his characters that came to be called The Addams Family, a group that evolved into multiple television shows, motion pictures and now this Broadway musical. Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Wednesday, Pugsley, Grandma and Lurch existed in various forms and aspects of Addams’ cartoons dating back to the 1930s but were not actually named by him until the early 1960s, when the television series was created. Surprisingly, The Addams Family characters appear in only a small number of the artist’s several thousand works. The majority of his cartoons are occupied by hundreds of other characters, but there is little doubt that those that come to life on this stage are his most beloved creations.

Over 15 books of his drawings have been published around the world, including the new collection, The Addams Family: An Evilution, the first complete history of The Addams Family, including more than 200 cartoons, many never previously published. The collection also includes Addams’ own incisive character descriptions (originally penned for the benefit of the television show producers) that remind us where these oddly lovable characters came from and, in doing so, offer a lasting tribute to one of America’s greatest humorists.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY – THE BROADWAY MUSICAL is on stage here in Dallas, October 2 – 21st at the Music Hall at Fair Park. This show is during The State Fair of Texas – your ticket to the show gets you into the Fair for FREE on the same day as your performance! This is a show you don’t want to miss. For tickets and more information, visit www.dallassummermusicals.org.

We hope to see you at the show and the Fair!

-DSM Amanda

[slideshow]

Hey DSM Fans!

As many of you know the State Fair of Texas opens one week from today. I know for myself and like many of you, we’re all excited to see all of the new and wonderful things that are coming to the State Fair of Texas this year. When I think of the State Fair of Texas I think of the Fried Foods, The Auto Shows, Big Tex and of course Fletcher’s Famous Corny Dogs.  This year the Fried Foods are bigger and better with tasty new treats such as Deep Fried Mac-N-Cheese Sliders, Chicken Fried Cactus Bites, Fried Mexican Fire Crackers, Fried Bacon Cinnamon Rolls, Fried Cotton Candy, Fried Sugar, Fried Kitty Kat (Kit Kat Bars), Fried Cow Patty, The Cup of Trash Plate, Picnic on a Stick and The Big Tex Choice Award Winner for Fried Foods….Deep Fried Jambalaya. If none of those sound appetizing, don’t worry because I’m sure a Deep Fried Red Velvet Cupcake, a Deep Fried Chicken and Waffle, a Deep Fried Baked Potato or an El Dogito on a Stick will do the job.

During the State Fair, The Chevrolet Main Stage will be hosting free concerts with fair admission for musicals artists such as Kevin Fowler, Uncle Kracker, Bridget Mendler, The Commodores, Kellie Pickler and Kevin Costner with Modern West all month long. Other events include The Chinese Lantern Festival, Creative Arts Shows, Celebrity Kitchen Shows, The Starlight Parade, Illumination Sensation, Birds Of The World, The 2013 State Fair Auto Show, The Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic Football Game, The Livestock Show and Auction, The Agriculture Show, The AT&T Red Rivalry Football Game and of course The Addams Family showing here at The Music Hall at Fair Park. Also, if you buy a ticket to The Addams Family you will receive free admission into the State Fair for that day.

The State Fair of Texas is one of the most delightful and entertaining places for people of all ages. I hope to see all of you in line for a corny dog and then off to the Music Hall at Fair Park for The Addams Family…there goes the neighborhood. Don’t worry we’ll keep the lights off for you.

-DSM Luke

Hello DSM Fans!

It’s week 3 of our family fun in honor of Wednesday Addams getting married! In celebration of this joyous (and kooky) event, we will be doing contests, giveaways, and/or exclusive discounts right here on our blog every Wednesday of this month! Be sure to subscribe to the blog to make sure you don’t miss anything! (To subscribe, go to the right of the blog then just enter your e-mail and make sure to confirm it!)

Thank you to everyone who have participated in our previous 2 contests. Don’t worry if you didn’t win! Here’s your next chance!

Today, this Wednesday Addams’ Contest will be a trivia quiz contest, because this show has so many years of history behind it.   CLICK HERE FOR THE TRIVIA QUIZ CONTEST. The winners will be posted right here on our blog for our final Wednesday contest on September 26th! All entries will be entered into a random drawing of 3 winners for 2 tickets to Opening Night of THE ADDAMS FAMILY on Oct. 2nd! AND BONUS, your ticket will get you into the Fair for FREE all day on Oct. 2nd! I can’t wait to see your family photos! You have until Tuesday evening at 11:59pm to enter! CLICK HERE FOR THE TRIVIA QUIZ CONTEST.

Good luck and have fun! We’re getting so excited about THE ADDAMS FAMILY – just 2 weeks away!

-DSM Amanda

Good morning DSM Fans!

A special THANK YOU for everyone who participated in our Week 2 Contest in honor of Wednesday Addams getting married!

Congratulations to Lynne Walters, Christia Caudle, and Jacob Sanchez for winning this contest! You have won 2 tickets to THE ADDAMS FAMILY on Tuesday, October 2nd at 8pm! Details will be in your inbox soon.

Check out all of the entries below! Stay tuned for this Wednesday’s contest for your next chance to win tickets to the show!

-DSM Amanda

[slideshow]

Hello DSM Fans!

It’s week 2 of our family fun in honor of Wednesday Addams getting married! In celebration of this joyous (and kooky) event, we will be doing contests, giveaways, and/or exclusive discounts right here on our blog every Wednesday of this month! Be sure to subscribe to the blog to make sure you don’t miss anything! (To subscribe, go to the right of the blog then just enter your e-mail and make sure to confirm it!)

First off, congrats to Meagan Williams and Susana Soliz for winning our photo caption contest – our first contest for Wednesday Addams! Thank you to everyone who participated – you had us cracking up here in the marketing department. Don’t worry if you didn’t win! Here’s your second chance!

Today, this Wednesday Addams’ Contest will be a family photo contest, because this show is all about family. 🙂 Send in your favorite, most embarrassing, most creative, etc. family photo to webinfo@dallassummermusicals.org. Your photos will be posted this Friday, September 14th right here on our blog, along with the winners of the contest! All entries will be entered into a random drawing of 3 winners for 2 tickets to Opening Night of THE ADDAMS FAMILY on Oct. 2nd! AND BONUS, your ticket will get you into the Fair for FREE all day on Oct. 2nd! I can’t wait to see your family photos! You have until Sunday evening at 11:59pm to enter! (We’ve extended the deadline so you won’t miss out!)

[slideshow]

Good luck and have fun! We’re getting so excited about THE ADDAMS FAMILY – just 3 weeks away!

-DSM Amanda

Hello DSM Fans!

Starting today, every Wednesday this month will be in honor of Wednesday Addams getting married! In celebration of this joyous (and kooky) event, we will be doing contests, giveaways, and/or exclusive discounts right here on our blog! Be sure to subscribe to the blog to make sure you don’t miss anything! (To subscribe, go to the right of the blog then just enter your e-mail and make sure to confirm it!)

Today, this Wednesday Addams’ Contest will be a photo caption contest. Check out the photo below and in the comments section below, enter your caption. All entries will be entered into a random drawing of 2 winners for 2 tickets to Opening Night of THE ADDAMS FAMILY on Oct. 2nd! AND BONUS, your ticket will get you into the Fair for FREE all day on Oct. 2nd! I can’t wait to read your comments!

We will announce the winner of this contest in our next post, next Wednesday! You have until Tuesday, September 11th, at 11:59pm to enter – good luck and have fun!

-DSM Amanda

Cortney Wolfson (Wednesday) and Patrick D. Kennedy (Pugsley) in THE ADDAMS FAMILY. (Photo by Jeremy Daniel)