Category

Addams Family

Meet the director of “The Addams Family”

By | Addams Family

Linda Gefken

Linda Gefken – actress, musician, musical director and director extraordinaire!

Following the huge success of “Rocky Horror” at the end of last year, “Sweet Charity” 2014 and “Urinetown” in 2012, Linda has again taken up the challenge to direct another musical based on the well known television series, “The Addams Family”.

Linda has been thrilled with her cast, “Everyone is putting in a lot of work and we already at performance level.  With a month to go before we are on stage, this is providing ample opportunity for character development and polishing up to a high standard.”

“We have been truly fortunate to have professional support from Rory Williamson School of Dance and Sian Howard Makeup.  Rory’s choreography really suits the characters and Sian’s makeup (supported by students from Demi International School of Makeup) is truly stunning, bringing the Family and the ghosts of their ancestors to life.”

Linda has appeared on stage many times over the years, in comedies, farce, tragedy and review.  Her favourite roles were in “Necessary Targets” (a gritty story set in the refugee camps of the Serb/Croatian conflict), Noel Coward’s “Fallen Angels” and last year in Williamson’s “Cruise Control” at Noosa Arts.  Her first stage appearance with Coolum Theatre Players was in the small but pivotal role of Mrs Beaton in “STiFF” last year.

She enjoys working with the Coolum Theatre Players – “The committee is very supportive, and we have a very talented and committed membership.  Auditions were so well attended I had to make some very hard decisions but I’m sure you’ll agree with me when you see the show that these actors are among the best of the best on the Sunshine Coast.”

“Presenting theatre in the Civic Centre is a challenge, it’s a huge hall with limited theatrical facilities but with creativity anything is possible.  And the cabaret style seating with byo snacks and drinks makes for a fabulous night out.”

Linda also works at St Andrew’s Anglican College as Head of Voice and is concurrently assisting with vocal coaching for their May production of “Into the Woods”.

Meet “The Addams Family” (and the Beinekes)

By | Addams Family
gomez GOMEZ – David Readett

How does a chartered professional metallurgical engineer (responsible for the management of numerous metallurgical projects around the world) and an avid tri-athlete, motorbike rider and surfer, squeeze in time for rehearsals and learning lines for the lead role of Gomez in The Addams Family? Simple, David Readett is passionate about everything he does. And Gomez is passionately in love with Morticia – affectionately calling her romantic names like Querida and Cara Mia and is driven wild by her slightest action.

oriana MORTICIA – Sharon Grimley

The matriarch, the real head of the family, a ruined beauty, contemptuous and original and with fierce family loyalty. Having first graced a Sunshine Coast stage in 2004, Sharon has
endeavoured to stay on it ever since! Performance pursuits have taken her to the US as part of Studio 2’s Dance USA Team, including performances on Carnival Cruise ships and in Disneyland. Sharon is delighted to be extending her live performance experience into the realms of live-and-dead-and-undecided theatre.

fester UNCLE FESTER – Rob Attenborough

Amongst the many talents of Rob Attenborough lies a playwright. A Finalist in the recent Edyth Brook Cooper Playwriting Competition presented by BATS Theatre, to his amazement he was awarded 1st Prize for Best Play with the comedy, ‘Senses Working Overtime’ as well as taking home the Audience Choice Award last Saturday 9th April. CONGRATULATIONS! Rob has certainly thrown himself into the role of Uncle Fester, who despite his menacing look and bizarre behaviour, is gentle and caring to everyone.

wednesday WEDNESDAY – Michelle Hansen

Michelle Hansen is a local talent having been born and raised on the Sunshine Coast. She has always had a passion for singing and made her theatre debut in 2012 in Coolum Theatre Players’ production of ‘Urinetown’. Since then, she has performed in a number of local productions. Michelle is excited to be part of The Addams Family as Wednesday (that irresistible bundle of malice who has now grown up), and hopes to continue performing on Thursday, Friday, Saturday….and beyond!!

oriana PUGSLEY – Nikki Middleton

Nikki’s first acting role was Gretel in ‘The Sound of Music’ at age seven. After travelling overseas, Nikki ended up on the Coast with her family. Her first show with Coolum in was ‘Urinetown’. From a little girl with a toy dog, to the risqué role of Janet in Rocky Horror, she now adds Pugsley to her character portfolio. Pugsley’s, an energetic monster of a boy, a dedicated troublemaker and extremely opposed to the thought of Wednesday, getting married.

grandma GRANDMA – Julia Loaney

Julia was CTP President from 2009 to 2014 and continues to manage all the shows’ publicity and promotions. She’s performed on stage, a television pilot, a radio play, a movie set and won Seniors Idol 2007. Having grandchildren of her own, this role is suiting her down to the ground. With a truly cynical sense of humor, grandma is known for concocting various potions. She’s hoping that lots of special effects makeup will be required to make her look 102 years of age!

oriana LURCH – Andrew Moon

Andrew fulfilled his ambition to play the Narrator in ‘Rocky Horror’, in CTPs production in November 2015. At 205cm tall with a deep, resonant voice, was any wonder he was cast as Lurch. A towering mute, Lurch has been shambling around the house forever. He’s not a very good butler but a faithful one. Andrew’s first role on the Sunshine Coast earlier in 2015 was playing Richard in David Williamson’s production, ‘Cruise Control’.

mal_alice MR & MRS BEINEKE – Greg and Chris McMahon

They’re husband and wife in real life, so playing the roles of Mr and Mrs Beineke is certainly easier on their rehearsal.From backstage, front of house and props maker, to the role of Dr Frank n Furter, the mad transsexual scientist from Transylvania, to Mal Beineke, a “normal” husband and father, Greg McMahon continues to show his theatrical capabilities. Mal is a respectable business owner who’s conservative and passionless so you can imagine his reaction to meeting the Addams Family at the dinner for his son’s intended marriage to Wednesday.

Chris started dancing when she was 4 and has enjoyed a love of music and dance ever since. She’s played numerous diverse character roles since joining CTP in 2010. Chris has been the director’s assistant in many productions, dance choreographer, props and costume maker, whilst also serving her fourth term as Vice President on the Committee. Alice Beineke, is the mother-in-law to be. Much like her own life story, “the people pleasing housewife” has a midlife awakening and finds her voice.

gomez LUCAS BEINEKE – Harry Cure

Lucas is a young college student from Ohio who, whilst lost in Central Park saw Wednesday with a crossbow and fell in love! Harry is an experienced performer having appeared in many amateur and professional productions. Whilst living in Tasmania, he sought tuition in Voice, Dancing and Acting and has been trained classically in Voice by Nationally recognised singer Chris Richardson. He’s extremely grateful to be on this path once again, following his
passion in his debut performance at Coolum.

Photos courtesy John Dumble

Makeup courtesy Sian Howard Makeup & Beauty
Sian SMH Logo