WHS musical opens Nov. 5
Opening night for this year’s Waupaca High School musical production of “The Addams Family” will be Thursday, Nov. 5.

The curtain will rise at 7 p.m. in the high school’s Performing Arts Center.

Subsequent performances will be 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6 and 7, with the closing performance at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8.

“The Addams Family” (A New Musical) opened on Broadway in April 2010.

It has become a popular choice for high schools in the past couple of years, due to its humor, wit and music.

“The Addams Family” was created by Jersey Boys authors Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice and Drama Desk Award winner Andrew Lippa.

It tells an original story of the familiar family that is known for all things macabre.

Wednesday has fallen for a boy and wants her dad, Gomez, to keep the secret that they are getting married from her mother, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night when they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.

Lead roles in Waupaca’s production include Addams Family members Hayden Neidert as Gomez, Kira Mielke as Morticia, Maddy Frank as Wednesday and Nathan Wachsmuth as Pugsley.

Uncle Fester is played by Christian Bump, and Nicole Weise portrays Grandma.

Wednesday’s boyfriend, Lucas Beinecke, is portrayed by Nate Schuler-Jones, and his parents are played by Jane Ryder and Caleb Hamm.

Lurch, the butler in the Addams Family mansion, is played by Joe Gill.

The remainder of the cast are ancestors of the Addams Family, all portrayed by members of the Waupaca High School Concert Choir.
Many chorus numbers fill this show with song and dance, and the music covers many styles, including rock, jazz, Latin and the traditional Broadway style show tune.

“The Addams Family truly is a new musical for Waupaca. It is fresh and funny, and the students are all having a blast with the rehearsals and preparations, whether it be the cast, orchestra, set design, props or anything else that goes with putting it together,” said Director Kathy Alan. “This is a show for all ages, with lots of witty dialogue and comic moments. The music is charming, although it is one of the most difficult scores that the vocalists and instrumentalists have ever tackled. We are excited to present our hard work to the community and hope others will make the trip out to Waupaca to see just how talented the students of Waupaca High School really are.”

Tickets are $8, with half price tickets for seniors, ages 62 on up, available for the Thursday and Sunday performances.

Tickets may be purchased at the Waupaca High School office or by calling 715-258-4131 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. through Friday, Nov. 6.

The box office will be open one hour prior to each show for ticket purchases and will-call pick up.