Denise Quinones: Eager to Become ‘Morticia Addams’

Bringing to life a character who evoked happy memories of her upbringing filled Puerto Rican actress Denise Quinones with joy.

Morticia’s deviance within the Addams Family, her own values ​​and her own distinctive “look”, are traits that have fascinated me since I first encountered her in the cinema, especially with the touch that actress Anjelica Huston gave to the famous mother in the two films released in the nineties.

The challenge of delving into her skin and immortalizing her for the Puerto Rican public with her expressionless face, black hair and red lips excites the artist greatly.

“It’s a character I cherish,” she said of the swanky woman who enjoys cutting roses to use only the stems as decorations. “I grew up admiring the movie with Raul Julia, Anjelica Huston, Christina Ricci, an amazing cast. It’s a movie that defined my childhood and now I’m able to have that character that caught my attention at the time, and I still do… I’m so excited, and I’m excited to start the rehearsal process,” she said of the musical comedy that marked her childhood. It opens Dec. 25. The October screening will be at the Santurce Fine Arts Center.

Since the beginning of her career, Denise has won the love of her followers thanks to her charisma and smiling attitude. With “Morticia” she will show a different side of her way of being.

“I think it’s going to be a really cool process. I like characters that are the further away from me, and the things that I have on a day-to-day basis, the more interesting they are to me,” said the actress, who has also excelled in film, a bit shyly. “They’re more fun, and they delve into this mysterious side. They’re kind of eccentric and mysterious, and I find that very fascinating.

Although the famous Hollywood actress will serve as a reference for her role, Denise will also work on adding her own touch to it. “They have done several versions, the new Netflix TV series (‘Wednesday Addams’), the puppets, and the original series, so I want to do more ‘research’ and see the different ‘Morticias’, because the version that has completely registered in my mind is the Anjelica Huston version, which was exceptional.”

The Spanish screening of “The Addams Family”, inspired by the nuclear family made famous by cartoonist Charles Addams in the late 1930s, will feature Marcos Santana as director and choreographer. It will be a reflection of the famous Broadway musical. The plot will show how the harmony of the Addams family is affected after Merlina falls in love with Lucas Beneke, an “ordinary” young man who comes from a different background than his family. Juan Carlos Rodriguez will be in charge of musical direction in the BAS Entertainment production.

“You don’t have to know the backstories to understand what’s going on in this musical,” the artist explained, highlighting how much she enjoys working in musical theater. “It’s the only space where you can unite the three branches that I love so much, which are dancing, singing and acting,” the 2001 Miss Universe said enthusiastically. “I always feel like I enjoy it.”

The challenge of making the interpretation credible is an experience he values ​​as part of his creative evolution. “I think I’ve always explored the human being, that process of how to step out of your shoes a little bit and be able to put yourself in someone else’s skin and in someone else’s shoes. I love it so much. For me, it’s a responsibility that I carry as an act of love, to be able to become someone else, and in that process and in expressing that person, I share the emotion, first with myself and my colleagues on stage, and, obviously, with the audience. “It always gets to me.”

The cast will include Ernesto Concepcion (“Gomez”), Denis Quinones (“Morticia”), Yedimar Ramos (“Merlina”), Noah Seda (“Pericles”), Juan Pablo Diaz (“Tio Lucas”), Magali Carrasquillo (“Grandma”) and Joaquin Jarque (“The Butler”). The Beneke family will be represented by Luis Obed Velasquez (“Tomas”), Victor Santiago (“Mauricio”) and Sara Jarque (“Alicia”).

“I’m very excited because there are so many colleagues I’ve worked with and others I don’t know. I’m very excited to work with Magali Carrasquillo, I adore her. I’ve never worked with her on an acting project.”

Meeting Ernesto Concepcion again for the project is also a celebration. “It fills me with so many emotions. I worked with him in a play many years ago,” he said, expressing similar excitement at the opportunity to shine on stage with the rest of the cast.

The release date is in October. “I love it because it comes right during the Halloween season, and it’s a great family activity, for young people, for the whole family. They’re going to have a great time,” he said with noticeable enthusiasm.

The musical catalog consists of over 25 songs by Andrew Lipa. “The music is incredible. I started listening to the soundtrack last week and the music is just brutal. We have some amazing directors. I’m so excited to work with Marcus Santana again, because I was able to work with him on In the Heights, which is an amazing project. So it’s going to be an amazing show, and the best thing is that it’s a play for the whole family, where they’re going to laugh a lot and that’s always a good thing.”

Tickets are available on Pietix.com and familiaaddams.com.