THE FRIDAY FIVE: Katie Callaway & Will Lasley from THE ADDAMS FAMILY

Brentwood's Towne Centre Theatre opens its latest production tonight with The Addams Family, the new musical by Marshall Brickman, Rick Elice and Andrew Lippa. Running through October 24, the show is directed by Jim Himelrick, produced by 2015 First Night Star Award winner April Presley, with musical direction by John Ray and choreography by Lindsay Carter.

Today, our Friday Five features focuses on the pair of actors portraying the scions of the Addams Family: daughter Wednesday and son Pugsley. Read all about the actors portraying the two iconic characters - Katie Callaway and 2014 First Night Most Promising Actor Will Lasley - then ring up the box office and secure your tickets to the show which promises to be one of Towne Centre's finest...

Katie Callaway

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater? Technically, my first performing experience was when I was two months old and played Baby Jesus in my church's Christmas play. My family jokes all of the time how I've been a performer since birth - literally

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? I definitely take some time to meditate before every performance once warm-ups have taken place. I put on my headphones, turn on the Deepak Chopra station on Pandora and find somewhere to clear my head.

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? My senior year in high school I was cast as Babe in The Pajama Game. During our last performance, I took one of my backstage moments to use the restroom. Unfortunately, I wasn't careful enough with my mic-pack and it fell directly in to the toilet! With only moments before I had to be on stage, I panicked! But the stage manager was prompt enough to get me a new mic before my next scene. It was a close call!

What's your dream role? I've always wanted to play Maria in West Side Story, especially if they ever decided to re-make the film version!

Who's your theatrical crush? Kyle Dean Massey, hands down!

Bonus: Tell me something about yourself that would surprise people. For those just meeting me, it may come as a surprise that I did competitive speech and debate for eight years all throughout high school and college. I won state championships several times, but my pride is when I won a first place national championship title in 2014.

Will Lasley

What was your first "live onstage" taste of theater My first taste of theater was a VHS copy of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and when I found out my cousins were doing it at their school, I was right there on the front row. The first show I was ever IN was Honk Jr. with Act Too.

What is your favorite pre-show ritual? Saying "Macbeth" repeatedly

What's your most memorable "the show must go on" moment? Completely blanking on my lines during Kiss Me, Kate. All I could think to do was say "I'm speechless" and try to keep going. Once I got backstage, I said certain words for the first time in my life.

What's your dream role? God, there're so many. Max Bialystock is definitely up there. The Beast, the voice of Audrey II, and pretty much anyone in Spamalot.

Who's your theatrical crush? Sarah Brightman.

Bonus: Tell me something about yourself that would surprise people. I am a 100% teetotaler. (So yes, I'm like this sober.)

About the show: The Addams Family features an original story and it's every father's nightmare. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family - a man her parents have never met. And if that weren't upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he's never done before - keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for that whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday's "normal" boyfriend and his parents. Mark Buchanan and Leslie Berra star as Gomez and Morticia in a cast that includes Greg Wagner as Uncle Fester, Katie Callaway as Wednesday, Courtney Taylor as Grandma, Will Lasley as Pugsley, John Ray and Benton Quarles (10/11, 15, 16 ) as Lurch, Seth Thomas as Mal Beineke, Amanda Grace Creech as Alice Beineke and Cameron Bortz as Lucas Beineke.

About tickets and showtimes: The Addams Family opens October 9th and runs through October 24th. Tickets can be purchased online starting September 18th atwww.townecentretheatre.tix.com or by calling (615) 221-1174. Show times are 8 p.m. for evening performances and 2:30 p.m. for Sunday. Doors open 30 minutes prior to curtain. Tickets are $16 for students, $18 for seniors 60 and over, and $20 for adults. Purchase a specially priced Thursday 4-pack of tickets online and get four tickets for only $60; available online only. Group rates are also available. Towne Centre Theatre is located at 136 Frierson Street in Brentwood.

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