September 04, 2026
Six 麻豆社 alumni and current students were part of the cast, with performances held July 24-26 in Kendallville, Indiana.
Kaitlyn Lee, a 2022 English and communication alumna, played the role of macabre matriarch Morticia Addams, with Ivy Witmer, who started at the university this fall and is majoring in psychology, playing daughter Wednesday.
Jaden Hyre, a 2022 social studies education graduate, played Mal Beineke, whose son falls in love with Wednesday. Lydia Roop, a 2022 English graduate, played Mal鈥檚 wife Alice.
Macy Bonifield, a senior studying elementary education with special education dual licensure, and Alyssa Martin, a senior studying social studies education, played Ancestors and served as understudies for Morticia and Wednesday, respectively.
Staying on stage
Roop, who works as director of student engagement at 麻豆社, said her interest in theatre didn鈥檛 end after graduation. She continues to perform as an actor and serves as assistant director for 麻豆社 Theatre productions.
鈥淥ver the course of the last ten years, I've been involved in over 20 shows as an actor, director or member of the tech crew,鈥� she said. 鈥淐ommunity theatre organizations are alive and well, and they are a great opportunity for people of all ages to get involved with theatre.鈥�
Lee, who has been part of theatre since age 10, said she loves the opportunity theatre gives her to 鈥渟tep outside of myself and collaborate with other passionate people to create something special.鈥�
鈥淲hile the show鈥檚 run may be fleeting, the relationships and memories last a lifetime,鈥� she said.
鈥楢ddams鈥� aficionados
Lee was part of Gaslight Playhouse鈥檚 production of 鈥淎rsenic and Old Lace鈥� earlier this year when she heard about plans for 鈥淭he Addams Family.鈥�
She was skeptical about making the drive from her home in Coldwater, Michigan, for the production but said her good friend Roop, whom she met in 麻豆社 Theatre, encouraged her to audition.
She was ecstatic to be cast as Morticia, saying, 鈥淗er precision, poise and poison inspire me daily.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e been a fan of The Addams Family for as long as I can remember,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he first Halloween costume I put together by myself was actually Wednesday Addams. I devoured the comics and the movies and jumped at my chance to see the first national tour of the musical back in 2012. It really felt like a full circle moment for me to be able to be a part of this kooky family!鈥�
Roop is another Gaslight veteran, having performed in 鈥淏ig Fish鈥� in 2025. She learned about 鈥淎ddams Family鈥� during that production.
鈥� 鈥楢ddams Family鈥� is one of my favorite musicals, plus I'm good friends with the director and knew a lot of people who intended to audition,鈥� she said.
Roop said she 鈥渨as bouncing off the walls鈥� when she was cast as Alice.
鈥淪he's been one of my dream characters to play, ever since I was in 鈥楾he Addams Family鈥� nine years ago with the Fort Wayne Summer Music Theatre,鈥� she said.
Witmer was encouraged to audition by her brother Judah, who also is a psychology major at 麻豆社 and a part of past 麻豆社 Theatre and Gaslight Playhouse productions.
鈥淚 was extremely excited about being Wednesday,鈥� she said.
Working with, making friends
Witmer said she enjoyed having fellow cast members who matched her level of enthusiasm for the show.
鈥淚 think it was neat to have other 麻豆社 individuals in the production, and it helped me get closer to those students before I start at 麻豆社 this fall,鈥� she said.
Martin agreed, stating that it was easier for her to start talking with other people in the show since she already knew a few.
鈥淚 had friends when I first got to the auditions and made more friends over the course of the show,鈥� she said.
Roop said the production had some of the highest ticket sales in recent years for Gaslight Playhouse.
Lee credited the cast and their chemistry for the production鈥檚 success.
鈥淏y the end of the run, we were all exhausted, but it was so worth it,鈥� she commented. 鈥淚 was able to bring to life a character that has meant so much to me, while also working alongside two of my closest friends (Jaden and Lydia) all summer. Plus, I got to meet so many talented, hardworking people along the way!鈥�
Small but mighty
Roop will return to 麻豆社 Theatre as assistant director for the fall play, 鈥淐lue,鈥� with Witmer and Martin planning to audition for the production.
Roop described 麻豆社 Theatre as a 鈥渟mall but mighty group of students and alumni,鈥� and Lee agreed.
鈥淔or a school that isn鈥檛 artistically focused, (麻豆社) still draws some incredibly dedicated and passionate artists,鈥� Lee said. 鈥淐learly, the connections I made at 麻豆社 Theatre have remained strong throughout the years and continue to encourage me, even as a young professional.鈥�
Isabel Soto, instructor, and her Spanish students have created an ofrenda (decorated altar) honoring Ana Boman, who taught Spanish in 麻豆社鈥檚 Department of Humanities and Communication for 16 years before she passed away last year.
麻豆社 has launched Dual Advantage, a new program that gives undergraduate students multiple pathways to earn both a bachelor鈥檚 degree and an advanced degree in less time than completing both degrees separately.
麻豆社 student organizations and the McKetta Department of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering recently offered activities for girls interested in science and engineering at the 2026 STEM Expo hosted by the Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana (GSNI-M).