The morbidly charming Addams family has a problem. Daughter Wednesday has fallen in love with a normal boy. That's the premise of the musical "The Addams Family," which will be presented by Columbia High School at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, through Saturday, March 28, with an additional performance at 2 p.m. on March 28. It will be performed in the high school auditorium, 901 Ironville Pike.

"The Addams family is a different kind of family; they operate outside of traditional customs and norms, so when Wednesday falls in love with Lucas Beineke, who comes from a normal family, it causes a problem," explained Ethan McNair, who portrays patriarch Gomez Addams. "They don't want Morticia, the mom, to find out about the relationship."

Ethan continued, "A lot of the plot centers on Gomez wanting to help his daughter but not wanting to keep a secret from his wife and Morticia trying to figure out what's going on with Gomez and her daughter. It's just a lot of fun."

Ethan noted that portraying a well-known character such as Gomez has both benefits and challenges.

"When it comes to playing somebody so iconic, that's something I'm new to on stage," he said, noting that he's taking inspiration from the original "Addams Family" 1960s sitcom and the Broadway musical. "It's been a bit of an obstacle for me, because obviously I appear younger, so I'm trying to figure out how to operate around that and still give a high-quality, immersive performance."

Aidan Morales portrays Mal Beineke, the father of Lucas.

"He gives off a fake personality that everything's fine, but deep down, he has his own problems, especially with his marriage, and you'll see that in the show," Aidan said.

Based on the Broadway musical of the same name, Columbia's show will be the school edition, meaning it's slightly shorter than the full-length show, with a few tweaks to the plot.

The main story and the characters are the same, including the presence of the Ancestors, said Makenzie Kuhn, who plays a bride ancestor.

"We're there guiding the story, helping to keep Wednesday and Lucas together," she explained. "The Addams family members can see us, but Lucas' family can't."

The show features a cast of about 40 students, including Zooey Minnick, who plays Wednesday; Daniel Jones, who plays Lucas; Amaya Farley, who portrays Morticia; Gage Wolf, who plays Uncle Fester; and Charlotte Warfel, who plays Pugsley.

One of the most memorable members of the Addams family, the disembodied hand called Thing, is also in the show. Luke Whitson will operate a puppet to portray Thing in some scenes, and he'll drive a remote-controlled Thing in other scenes.

The sets, costumes and props all add to the show's immersive feel, said Kyovany Woodard, a member of the stage crew.

He noted that the students take a hands-on role with the set and props, some of which have been 3-D printed.

Kyovany said audiences can expect to be entertained by the musical.

"It's a pretty wacky show, over the top all around," he said. "There's lots of comedy."

Makenzie agreed, adding, "The characters are well-known, and the storyline will unite everyone in the audience, young and old."

While there's no doubt the Addams family members are a bit quirky, the show still contains some deeper themes, Aidan said.

"It's a show about growth," he stated. "It's about understanding that it's OK to adjust your beliefs, and it's healthy to learn and grow, even if it's out of your comfort zone."

Ethan said he's excited to perform a show that he believes represents the talent of Columbia's students, a sentiment echoed by his peers.

"This show is really bringing out what Columbia has to offer in the theater program," he said. "A lot of people are stepping up vocally and in the dance performances. You'll see what Columbia can do, and you'll see a show that is going to be very enjoyable to watch."

Tickets for "The Addams Family" will be available at the door. All seating is general admission.