Shawnigan Presents The Addams Family

“They hit it out of the park,” said Mr. Salvatore Interlandi, who served as producer of The Addams Family. “You could feel the confidence they had.”

 

The Addams Family was the first Shawnigan musical for three of the leads, Josef J. as Gomez, Ariel M. as Morticia, and Izzy M. as Wednesday. Josef had to juggle being a new student to Shawnigan with the challenging role of Gomez, who Mr. Interlandi describes as “the anchor, the one that pushes the story forward.” Like the rest of the cast, he embraced the opportunity to interpret the character and make it his own.

 

“Gomez is probably the most fun character I’ve ever played, being able to be that expressive comedically,” Josef says. “It’s a comedy show, so you don’t have to be that based in reality.”

 

Josef noted that being able to take part in the musical was a key reason he came to Shawnigan, while at the same time it helped him adapt to his first year at boarding school.

 

“It’s like a sports team,” he says. “You get close with the people around you. You’re together for hours each day, so you have the opportunity to get really close and connect with people. You’re part of something bigger than yourself.”

 

Rounding out the members of the Addams Family were Audrey T. as Pugsley, Talia S. as Uncle Fester, Sarah M. as Grandma, and Hayden T. as the butler, Lurch. Keegan L. portrayed Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend, Lucas Beineke, with Serena Z. as his mother, Alice, and Charlie G. as his father, Mal. Stage manager Charlotte C., working in her fourth Shawnigan musical, led the crew, keeping everything “in lockstep” once the production moved from rehearsing in the School’s Hugh Wilkinson Theatre to the McPherson Playhouse.

 

“The musical has always been one of the highlights of every school year for me,” Charlotte comments. “It has been awesome to be a part of such an event. I'm extremely thankful for all the people who have worked so tirelessly to bring this dream to life. While it's true that I essentially run the show when we get into the McPherson, none of what I do would be possible without all the time and effort invested by everyone else in the months leading up to the show week.”

 

The cast and crew were guided by Mr. Interlandi, director Mrs. Rosalynd Roome ’91, musical director Ms. Mandy Bryant, choreographer Ms. Annie Marland, and production coordinator Ms. Jennifer Kozak. Mr. John Bomans led the team of students who built the set.

 

In the end, the show is about the student cast and crew members, who Mrs. Roome says were rightfully proud of the final production.

 

“The students feel good about themselves, and that’s what matters,” she emphasizes. “Everyone did an amazing job, but the bottom line is that they are pleased with the work they did.”

 

Head of School Mr. Larry Lamont congratulated the students during the gathering in Chapel this Wednesday (the day, not the character).

 

“It was your moment,” he said. “The production was evidently the result of extraordinary teamwork between students and staff and Shawnigan. Know that you combined as a team to deliver something magical. You made us proud; proud parents, proud grandparents, proud godparents, staff, fellow students, and many more.”

 

Mr. Lamont’s young daughter rushed to get autographs after she watched the show with her parents. She wasn’t the only audience member who approached cast members after the show — Josef had a student from a public school congratulate him after a showing and tell him how lucky he is to be at Shawnigan, with the access to experts and a professional atmosphere that the School provides, something that he was already well aware of.

 

“In a different environment, you wouldn’t be able to be this big,” Josef says. “There’s so much you can do here; it’s amazing.”