When you think of “The Addams Family,” you don’t usually think of happy things like love and marriage. The quirky relatives who love all things ghoulish and morose tend to stick to darker topics.

But the comical musical, which the Battle Mountain High School Players will perform at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the high school’s auditorium, takes you on a journey that may not be too far-fetched from the modern American family.

Based on the cartoon characters created by cartoonist Charles Addams back in the late 1930s, “The Addams Family” is comprised of Gomez and Morticia as the parents and Wednesday and Pugsley as their daughter and son. Rounding out the relatives are Grandma Addams, Fester and Lurch — and a whole host of ancestors who are conjured up from time to time. Twenty-eight students make up the cast of the spring production, with 15 people on the crew.

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“We wanted to produce a true comedy while highlighting our strong group of talented seniors and allowing for participation from new students who have never been involved in a musical before,” said Caitie Almond, theater director at Battle Mountain High School. “This show allowed us to cast experienced students in challenging character roles and created an opportunity for a fun and diverse chorus with the Addams ancestors.”

Similarly to “The Addams Family” television show, which first aired in 1964, the play follows the family as they maneuver through life as the oddball outsiders. This version has a fun twist with daughter, Wednesday, growing up and finding love, and wanting to get married. The drama starts when she wonders if their love can last when her fiancé’s family is considered too normal.

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The plot weaves between watching the Addams clan going to the graveyard for a family gathering of those living, dead or otherwise, and Wednesday confiding in Pugsley while torturing him on a rack (because that’s what saturnine people do) while telling him that she’s concerned about her boyfriend, Lucas, and his family meeting their family. The family dinner is hilarious with Lucas and his parents, Alice and Mal, joining him. Come see how it all unfolds between song and dance, and life lessons that stand the test of time.

“When ‘The Addams Family’ first aired, it stood out because, despite the family being a little offbeat and quirky, they were a close-knit knit loving family,” said director David Mayer. “In relation to today, it showcases acceptance and tolerance of those considered to be different or outside the norm.”

The Battle Mountain High School Players have been working on this production since the second week of January and have been ramping up rehearsals leading up to Opening Night on Thursday. In that time, the directors have seen growth from their cast and crew.

“The students have become more focused on fine-tuning their craft and have spent countless hours practicing their dances, music and characterization and have shown amazing growth throughout this process,” Almond said. “Our more seasoned thespians have really stepped up as student leaders, guiding our new students through the process and teaching them what is expected in order to put on a high-quality production.”

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“Theater is completely different from what the rest of high school is like because of the diverse community and the hard work the cast puts into each show,” said Presley Walters, a senior who plays Fester. “Being a student athlete as well as an actress, I found that theater has made me well rounded in all facets of my life. I have made friends for life in my four years with the theater program and wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

“I’ve learned a lot from our wonderful directors and others in the Vail Valley Theater Company,” said Wade Patterson, a senior who plays one of the ancestors. “You need to be firm with students, especially when it’s their first show and it’s their first time being in this setting. I am very grateful for being put in this role, no matter how stressful it is in the moment.”

“The Addams Family” will be performed at the Battle Mountain High School auditorium at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Go to BMHSPlayers.com for tickets or get them at the door. Adults are $15 and $5 for students and Battle Mountain High School students are free.  

“Come out and support our performing arts here at BMHS,” said Yarely Solorzano, a sophomore who plays one of the ancestors. “This is a self-funded theater program, so all of our shows are produced with proceeds from previous productions. The students worked incredibly hard on it, and it is hilarious and really fun.”