LOCAL

Cape Fear Regional Theatre viral TikTok of Addams Family table read reaches millions of views

Joseph Pierre
Fayetteville Observer

A video posted to TikTok of a young Fayetteville thespian singing his heart out during a table read for the Cape Fear Regional Theatre's production of the "The Addams Family Musical" has gone viral — amassing millions of views and more than a thousand fawning comments.  

Since it was posted Oct. 11, 4.6 million viewers have watched 11-year-old Grayden Culbreth belt out the lyrics to "What If." As he does so, some of his cast mates, seated around him during the practice session, look on adoringly.

Grayden is a sixth-grade student at Freedom Christian Academy in Fayetteville. He has performed in several plays including appearing as Babkah in the theater's summer production of "Aladdin Jr.," according to his biography in the "The Addams Family" playbill.

He is one of two Pugleys in the production. The other young actor/singer is 12-year-old Aiden Soltren. While Grayden is listed in the playbill as "Pugsley Addams (Kooky Cast)," Aiden is billed as "Pugsley Addams (Spooky Cast)."

The viral video, by Ayana Washington, a content creator for Cape Fear Regional Theatre, has gained more than 237,000 likes and 1,167 comments as of Friday afternoon.

Grayden Culbreth, 11, in a video on TikTok singing at a table read for Cape Fear Regional Theatre's production of "The Addams Family."

"Holy crow young man ... just fabulous!!" one person said.

"Really surprised this isn't a larger theater company. So good," another commented.

Among those commenting was three-time Tony Award nominee Kevin Chamberlain, whose turn as Uncle Fester in the Broadway rendition of "The Addams Family: A New Musical" garnered him a Best Featured Actor nomination in 2010. Chamberlain also has a following for his work in film and TV, including starring as the character Bertram in the Disney Original Series sitcom "Jessie" from 2011-2015.

"Bravo! What a voice!" Chamberlain said.

You can watch Grayden perform in the Cape Fear Regional Theatre's production of "The Addams Family Musical" through Nov. 12. For tickets visit ci.ovationtix.com/36634/production/1172222.

Public safety reporter Joseph Pierre can be reached at jpierre@gannett.com.