Oct. 23, 2023 -- When senior Lucia Mitchell joined the Vocal Music Department her freshman year, she did not anticipate the extent that the performing arts would have impacted her to grow as a leader and to find her own voice. And here she is now, as Wednesday Addams in Heights High’s musical production of
The Addams Family - A New Musical Comedy. The show, based on Charles Addams’ single-panel gag cartoons, depicts the macabre, ghoulish family as they learn of Wednesday falling in love with a boy from a normal Ohio family and must face the one horrible thing they have managed to avoid for generations: change.
Tickets are only available online and can be purchased until showtime.
Junior Sofia Pehowic, who plays Uncle Fester in Cast B, enjoyed curating his character and recalled the similarities between him and her role during her freshman year as a student from
Matilda the Musical. “Amanda was definitely shyer than Fester but they both have that happy, child-like attitude.” Sophomore Henry Dyck has never played a character like Lucas Beineke before, describing the character as “energetic and fueled by his love for Wednesday.” Playing the “fun and different and unexpected” Alice Beineke is senior Harper Walker’s first opportunity to play a lead role. She described it as “really interesting to put my mind into this character and see how she acts and how I can feel her feelings.”
“The musical is, for a lack of a better word, weird,” said senior Ruby Tugeau, who also plays Alice. “But that’s why it’s so entertaining to watch! The audience will be completely enveloped in the Addams’ world as the characters manage to find love and acceptance despite their abnormal traditions.”
The cast emphasizes the exciting challenge of telling the different stories of the many diverse characters in the midst of the spooky comedy. Junior, Hugh Davis, who plays Gomez Addams, said, “The other productions I have done always tried to be taken seriously, but
The Addams Family is uniquely wacky.” Sophomore Abs Burkle said, “I generally like to play the weird characters so to play Uncle Fester is very natural.”
According to VMD teacher and director, Jesse Lange, nearly 250 student actors from the middle and high schools, singers, instrumentalists and crew members have come together to prepare for and perform in the Heights High’s production of this two-time Tony Award nominated musical. “
The Addams Family is a spooky show for the spooky season! It is going to be an incredibly fun show that is not to be missed,” he said. The show runs from Thursday, November 3 through November 5, November 10 and 11 at the Dina Rees Evans Performing Arts Center in Cleveland Heights High School.
The lead actors urge the community to come and see this show. Senior Anna Kenealy, who plays Morticia Addams, said “The audience should look forward to all the fun songs, the family’s ambience, and the great costumes!”
Every lead cast member also highlighted the camaraderie that has deepened in the midst of dance rehearsals, line work, and blocking practice. “I have been enjoying my time learning dances and spending time with the cast,” said Harper. “We are serious when we need to be but it’s also a lot of fun!”
Mr. Lange chose this contemporary production as a way to showcase the talents of the district’s middle and high school students while also still being engaging to all audiences. The show is a “coming of age story of star-crossed lovers that highlights the importance of strong family bonds and having pride in oneself and community.”
Like the characters in
The Addams Family, the members of the cast have grown a deeper appreciation of each other and the effort it takes to create something bigger than just themselves. “This musical has made me become a better actor overall,” said sophomore Jordan Lashore-Yelder, “and made me really appreciate how hard others work to make others happy.”
They also have a deeper understanding of the importance of maintaining long-standing traditions and developing a sense of community. “I have grown a family and an awesome community that I can say I’m part of,” said Harper. “The [VMD’s] traditions are also so much fun that you only get to know and see the beauty of it when you are involved in it all.”
The Addams Family - A New Musical Comedy, will be performed on November 3, 4, 10, and 11 at 7:00 p.m. and November 5 at 4:30 p.m. Audience members are welcome to wear Halloween costumes to the performances.
The lead roles of the show:Gomez: Hugh Davis
Morticia: Anna Kenealy
Uncle Fester: Abs Burkle (Cast A) and Sofia Pehowic (Cast B)
Grandma: Clara Lyford (Cast A) and Mickie Lewis-Williams (Cast B)
Wednesday: LeeAsia Peterson (Cast A) and Lucia Mitchell (Cast B)
Pugsley: Dametriana Blade
Lurch: Gabriel McKay (Cast A) and Leonte Whiteside (Cast B)
Mal Beineke: Jaylen Rajeswaran (Cast A) and Jordan LaShore-Yelder (Cast B)
Alice Beineke: Harper Walker (Cast A) and Ruby Tugeau (Cast B)
Lucas Beineke: Henry Dyck