East Troy High School’s fall musical promises lots of laughs
By Tracy Ouellette
SLN Staff
East Troy High School fall musical, “The Addams Family Musical,” will hit the stage Nov. 10, 11 and 12 and the drama students are having a blast preparing for its run.
“This is my favorite role so far,” senior Nick Schmieden said.
Schmieden is playing family patriarch Gomez Addams opposite senior Brianna Schubert’s Morticia Addams.
“This has been a fun show for us,” Schubert added. “The songs are so catchy.”
Wednesday Addams actress Deanna Pogreba agreed, adding that the role has been “a dream come true” for her.
The musical pays homage to the Addams Family TV show of the 1960s and the 1991 movie. The macabre musical comedy was created by Jersey Boys authors Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and is based on characters created by Charles Addams.
According to the musical’s website, the play features an original story that’s every father’s nightmare. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family. A man her parents have never met. And if that weren’t upsetting enough, she confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before — keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything changes for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.
“It’s quite a humorous show,” said senior Brett McAlister, who plays Mal Beineke. “I laughed harder than I ever have before reading the script.”
While the actors didn’t want to spoil anything for the audience, they all agreed the ending of Act I was their favorite part of the musical.
“It’s pure chaos,” Schubert said. “It definitely won’t disappoint the fans of the Addams family.”
Other cast members for the play include: Zoe Dignan as Pugsly Addams, Brook Schubert as Grandma, Tara Johnson as Uncle Fester, Rorye Cieslik as Alice Beineke, Ethan Fridley as Lucas Beineke, and Matthew Gilgenbach as Lurch.
The ancestors/ghosts are played by Katie Aldred, Mackenzie Betley, Grace Bird, Ashlyn Dent, Hailey Donohoue, Samantha Donohoue, Aurelia Evrard, Alyssa Gordon, Cole Marcinkevic, Morgan Madish, Lauren Parker, Jenna Raymond, Victoria Schloesser, Marcus SeVilla, Kassidy Stern, John Veselka, Mason Warner, Kellen Woods and Jenna Zabel.
Allison Mengel is the stage manager and Carolin Christianson is the assistant stage manager. Crewmembers are Joe Blake, Shelby Cieslik, Margo Damske, Darwin Fidler,
Jaden Henschel, Sophie Marsh, Taylor Olejniczak, Zach Preiser, Hannah Sippl and Luke Peterson (light).
The musical is being directed by Deb and Phil Williamson. Aimme Swanson is the vocal musical director and Riley is the instrumental musical director.
The musical will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 10 and 11 and 2 p.m. on Nov. 12, in the East Troy High School lecture hall. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students.
