The students of Galesburg High School in Galesburg, Ill., will present the musical The Addams Family on Halloween weekend, according to the school’s website.
The immediate family will be played by Tommy King as Gomez, Taylor Porter as Morticia, Jessica Sparks as Wednesday, and Rafael Contreras as Pugsley. The character of Lurch will be played by Baron Lam, with Eleanor Kelly and Sam Armon playing Grandma and Uncle Fester.
This musical is also expected to be performed at Wauconda High School north of Chicago on Nov 20–22, East Richland High School in Olney on Dec 5–7, and Mt Pulaski High School about 55 miles south of Peoria on April 10–11, 2015.
The book is by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, and the lyrics and music were written by Andrew Lippa. Messrs Brickman and Elice co-wrote The Jersey Boys, winner of the 2006 Tony Award for Best Musical.
The Addams Family features an original story, billed as “every father’s nightmare.” The daughter is “the ultimate princess of darkness,” but she falls in love with a smart man from a respectable family. Upon revealing her love to her father, she begs him to keep it secret from her mother, and keeping secrets is something he’s never been able to do. It all comes to a climax when the Addams Family invites the boyfriend and his family over for dinner.
Describe key differences in the interpretation of this musical by at least two high schools, explaining why those differences might have occurred. See Common Core English language arts literacy standard RL.11-12.7 for more information.
