Local 6th Grader is Broadway Bound

The Fox Theatre was in all its splendor Tuesday evening for the opening of Theater of the Stars production of “The Addams Family.” But not just another production opening, it was homecoming for Cumming resident and  schooler Ethan Wexler. For the past six months, Wexler has been touring nationally as the understudy for Pugsley, the stoic faced, deadpan and often-overshadowed son of Gomez and Morticia Addams.

Wexler, who previously lived in Johns Creek, was "discovered" as a newborn as having perfect pitch. Now 11-years-old, the young artist has been acting since he was five years old. Growing up, all of his play has involved performance art whether he was producing shows for neighborhood kids in Johns Creek, learning new skills with Christian Youth Theater (CYT) in Atlanta, or currently as a company member of RISPA [dance studio], in nearby Alpharetta. His favorite thing about the tour is being surrounded by personal and professional role models within the company.

Being in the “The Addams Family” is Wexler's first big show and he enthusiastically says, “The show is great, I love being the cover for Pugsley. I love going on stage each time, it just feels great being on a big stage. I want to be a Broadway performer, so this is my big start. This is a very exciting show.”

Wexler has watched a few of the original TV episodes, produced long before he was born and thinks the TV show was lots of fun. Of the production currently at the Fox Theater, Wexler offers some advice for Cumming residents planning on attending this weekend’s performances.

“You’ll have a great laugh, it’s a great comedy, all of the actors are incredible and have been great to work with."

Proudly adorning a chain necklace, Wexler sports pins he’s personally collected over the past six months while on tour in cities such as Baltimore, Washington DC, Denver, Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, San Diego and others.

The Addams Family, which began performances in March 2010 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York City and ran through December 2011, immediately became one of Broadway’s biggest hits. Theater critics have described the production as “classic, full-tilt, fast paced, old-fashioned musical comedy of the macabre drawings by Charles Addams.”

Sunday’s matinee wraps up the tour with Wexler stepping out from the understudy role and into the Pugsley character on stage. In addition to regular patrons, friends and family from four states are coming to see him perform at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta for the show's finale.