Emmy-award-winning choreographer Tyce Diorio is back at Cape Fear Regional Theatre for its musical production of “The Addams Family,” a musical comedy opening Thursday and playing through Nov. 5.
Best known for his work over 15 seasons on the hit television show “So You Think You Can Dance?” and for working with celebrities — Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift and Paula Abdul among them — on world tours, Diorio has performed and choreographed for Broadway, film and television. His Emmy Award was earned in 2009 for outstanding choreography. He recently finished as an artist in residence at the University of Southern California Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, a premier dance program in the country.
“My greatest passion is telling stories through dance,” Diorio said.
Behind the directors and cast
Cape Fear Regional Theatre Artistic Director Mary Kate Burke, who is directing “The Addams Family,” has worked with Diorio twice — first on “Music City,” which debuted at the theater in 2018, and then 2021’s “The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical Party” in 2021.
When Burke called to see if Diorio would choreograph this second show of CFRT’s season, he said yes.
“Mary Kate is the director of the century,” Diorio said. “We work so well together. It’s collaboration in its highest form. I’m a fan of ‘The Addams Family.’ I did a piece inspired by Wednesday Addams on ‘So You Think You Can Dance?,’ and it has been a dream of mine to do the actual musical.”
Diorio said he’s working with a multitalented company of actors he describes as a dream cast: Alessandra Antonelli, Joshua Morgan, Samantha Parada and Marc de la Concha.
“Alessandra, who is playing Wednesday; Joshua, who is playing Fester; Sam., playing Morticia and Mark playing Gomez — it’s literally a dream come true,” he said. “They are magnificently, brilliantly, talented. Period. The end.”
Antonelli, Morgan and Parada are each making their respective CFRT debuts, while de la Concha has served as the theater’s education director and has become a local favorite with roles in “The Odd Couple,” “Clue” and “Shrek,” among others. De la Concha most recently directed “Matilda,” which had an extended sold-out run last season.
Diorio described the cast as “Broadway-caliber.”
Movement as a direction choice
Diorio’s choices for the onstage musical differ from his choreography on “So You Think You Can Dance?”
“Everyone moves in ‘The Addams Family,’” he said. “It’s a little different than the television show because at the theater I’m working with triple threats, people who can sing, act and dance — whereas on “So You Think You Can Dance?” it is primarily dance. I think I’ve created a vocabulary of movement. The style is how I feel ‘The Addams Family’ moves, how they would move to this music. It’s a lot of fun.”
Diorio considers movement to be part of the storytelling as the story revolves around the eccentric Addams family and their supernatural ancestors — as well as the Beinecke family, which collide with the Addams family as Wednesday Addams develops a love interest with the Beinecke’s “normal” son.
In addition, the beloved characters bring plenty of dark humor and eerie charm to the production, according to Diorio. There are more than 20 actors in the cast including the families and the ancestors.
“Everyone has their own style as part of their character,” he said. “It feels like the world they live in and becomes relatable to the audience. There is a quirkiness, a kookiness and a mysterious spookiness to the movement.”
Diorio and the artistic team go way back
Also part of the artistic team is Melanie Benz, who’s working with Diorio as his “right hand.” The pair have worked together for 30 years, after they met when she was 15 years old and Diorio was teaching a master class on a nationwide tour. They reunited in New York several years later and have worked together ever since.
“We ran into each other in New York in the rain,” Diorio said, laughing. “I told her that she was coming with me to LA and the next thing we knew, we were both dancing onstage with Jennifer Lopez on her first recorded single.”
Benz said it’s easy to work with Diorio — they have developed an in-sync creative working relationship over three decades.
“The great thing about having so much time under our belt is there is an ease that happens,” she said. “He can just look at me and I know what he is thinking. There’s honesty amongst us and a true co-creative experience with us as we create. He’s very open without ego or a sense of hierarchy, and Mary Kate is literal perfection.”
Benz has also had an illustrious career on stage and screen. Her roles have included characters in “The Muppets” movie, “Grey’s Anatomy” and “The Chosen,” and she’s toured with Jennifer Lopez, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake and Pink — plus performed on numerous stages with even more top artists. Her most recent project is the movie “Tin Soldier” with screen legend Robert De Niro.
Ashley Owen, marketing director for Cape Fear Regional Theatre, said tickets to “The Addams Family” have sold briskly. Tickets range from $19 to $37. Military appreciation night is Oct. 25 and teacher appreciation night is Oct. 27 with a special discount of 25% for both.
Special events include pajama parties on Oct. 19, Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, along with spooky specialty drinks being served before the show on Oct. 20.
Performances will spook audiences through Nov. 5 with 7:30 nightly performances and 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays and Sundays starting Oct. 22. For more information, visit www.cfrt.org or call the box office at 910-323-4233. Cape Fear Regional Theatre is at 1209 Hay St. in Fayetteville.
