The Addams Family Musical was a Hit!

Aisha Musa and Ellora Biggs - April 24th, 2023

The new spring Musical was an absolute hit. With an amazing cast, beautiful voices, endless amounts of humor, and a budding romance, this musical was absolutely amazing. I’m sure many people are aware of the Adams Family, this year's cast was able to successfully bring the Adams Family to life. 

The curtain opened, and everything was quiet before we were immersed with the music of the Addams Family Intro. It was a bit of a surprise to go from a quiet theater to a loud and booming intro. The introduction set the stage for the rest of the fantastic musical. Brady Stephens did a wonderful job as the lead of Gomez Adams, his voice was amazing and as he says “Performing on stage is the best part, in my opinion. There's just something about the thrill of a live audience and the idea that anything could go wrong at any time that I find exhilarating.”  And, Kym Moriones was a great female lead as Morticia, her voice fit perfectly! All the actors in the play had wonderful voices that enriched the performance of the play. 

Not only that, but the story was genuinely laugh out loud funny. And, the audience seemed to agree. Mostly moments where you didn’t expect it, whether it was about how Pugsley (played by Holly) had a deep desire to be tortured as a fun pastime, or when Morticia had a lovely time exploring the deep dark side of the afterlife like it was a regular hobby. 

The cast of this year's musical did an absolutely fantastic job with comedic delivery, fitting sets, and wonderful performances. Congratulations on a fantastic performance! The main cast consisted of Gomez (Brady Stephens), Morticia (Kim Leah Moriones), Grandma (Talise Eynon), Lurch (Matthew Nagel), Wednesday (Chloe Rodgers), Mal (Beck Simpson), Fester (Cloe Quiroz), Alice (Moria Algren), Pugsley (Holly Kerr), and Lucas (Stevie Carr). The supporting cast consisted of Genessa DeLaTorre, Daniela Quiros-Allen, Talise Eynon, Lupe Bermudez, Alexa Esparza, and Giselle Ritchie. All the cast members did an amazing job with bringing their characters to life in an exciting way

Before these talented performers could assume their respective roles, they had to go through an audition process in which they each sung a song of their choice before Ms. Mannion and Mr. Bent. “The audition process is not as grueling as it seems,” says Stevie Carr (11). After the future cast members went through the pre-auditions, they had real auditions followed by callbacks, and “that’s when the real stress began” notes Stevie. After they got their roles, the production began!

Opening night was a whirlpool of emotions, and everyone experienced different things. Genessa DeLaTorre, a junior who played the Dead Bride, wasn't really too stressed. “I don't really get stage fright so I went on with a good amount of confidence. I think it helps when an actor is 100 percent sure of what they are doing.” However, everyone has a different perspective when it comes to the emotions surrounding the big night. Kim, a 12th grader who played Morticia explains, “The closer we got to opening night, the more you could feel the cast brimming with excitement and confidence. For me personally, before the curtains first opened on opening night, I felt like throwing up haha.”

When on stage, the emotions don’t stop. “Performing on stage felt amazing, having everyone watching you and your fellow cast members go through the many-times practiced motions” says Junior Matthew Nagel who was the Addams Family’s Lurch. And, the general consensus seems that the laughter from the audience was one of the best parts of performing! 

Finally, we asked some cast members for their best piece of advice to aspiring performers! 

Matthew Nagel (11): “My advice to future cast members is to know your limits. It's good to practice a bunch, but you shouldn't wear yourself to complete exhaustion. It won't make the musical any better if you're falling asleep on stage.”

Genessa DeLaTorre (11): “I would tell them to make friends with the cast first. If you are uncomfortable around people you don't know, it will be difficult for you to fully immerse yourself into the experience and character. You need to know the cast as much as yourself to fully know your part.”

Kim Moriones (12): “Some advice I could give to future cast members is to have a lot of patience. You're working with a lot of people, and you want the end result to feel like a well oiled machine! And don't be afraid to ask questions to your fellow cast, they want the show to be a success as much as you do! Be confident in everything you do and performing will become a breeze. Break a leg!) 

Rayne Carr (11): “To any future performers, take that leap and audition. Put yourself out there, get yourself known. Eventually you will get chosen for a role and it will be the best experience of your life. Even performing in ensemble is amazing. The ensemble is the rock of our cast.”