Belmont Middle School is bringing the kookiest, creepiest family to the stage in its spring production of the musical “The Addams Family,” which opens May 14.
The musical, based on characters created by Charles Addams, follows the Addamses as they navigate the trials and tribulations of young love. Wednesday Addams, now grown up, has fallen in love with Lucas Beineke, a boy from a “normal” family, and the two are set to be married. Though her family has never met Lucas, Wednesday confides in her father, Gomez, about their plans for marriage, asking him not to tell her mother, Morticia.
During dinner at the Addamses’, chaos and comedy ensue, thanks to Pugsley, Grandma Addams, and a host of Addams “ancestors.” In the end, Morticia and Gomez, Lucas and Wednesday, and Lucas’ parents, Mal and Alice, strive to reconcile their differences and find a new, “crazier” love with each other.
“Working with everyone has been really fun. Everyone’s super supportive of each other, and we cheer each other up, and we all do our best together,” said Madeline Busch, who plays Wednesday.
The Belmont cast, comprised of seventh- and eighth-graders, has been in rehearsal since February, said Director Eimile Bowden. “The Addams Family” is the first show Bowden has directed in Belmont.
“I’m so excited. They worked so hard, and I think they’ve made a lot of really good memories as well,” Bowden said.
The cast and crew jumped at the chance to portray the iconic Addams family, according to Bowden. Many of the students grew up watching the various movie adaptations or are avid fans of the Netflix series “Wednesday.”
“They knew how iconic they are,” Bowden said. “I think the students were really excited, especially once we started talking about the overall vision for the show, the makeup, and the hair and all that.”
Getting to put the iconic characters to song and dance means Belmont students have their own twist on them — whether it’s Morticia or one of the many Addams ancestors who support each and every scene.
“Dancing is absolutely one of my favorite parts of the show, especially the ‘Death is Just Around the Corner’ scene,” said Maria Miranda Menendez, a seventh-grader who is a member of the ensemble.
While the students have put many hours into rehearsals, they said the theater community keeps them excited to come back day after day.
“[I love] being with all the cast, because everyone is just so nice and welcoming,” said Elijah Sison, who plays Gomez.
“If you’re a kid, don’t be afraid to try theater,” added Avery Michaud, a member of the ensemble. “It’s gonna be really fun.”
For the show’s eighth-graders, “The Addams Family” is their final middle school show before they move on to performing arts at the high school level. While the stage may stay the same, the cast size will often double. Busch, an eighth-grader, said while she’ll always cherish her time in the middle school program, she’s excited for what’s to come next year.
Through her years of directing in other schools and from her own theater experience, Bowden knows that for many of the students, the memories of “The Addams Family” can last a lifetime.
“That’s why I love directing,” Bowden said. “I try to pass down the great memories that I got to have with my friends as a kid. I love to see that being made in the next generation.”
“The Addams Family” will run on May 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. and on May 16 at 5 p.m. at Belmont Middle and High School. Tickets can be purchased online.
