[This is the second of our 2-Part Series spotlighting the Annual LHS Musical]
The beloved Ellwood City Area School District’s musical and theatrical performances have finally returned to the stage with The Addams Family Musical.
Performances are tonight at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 27th at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 28th at 2 p.m.
There are still tickets left to see the show in person and tickets for the live stream are also available. All tickets are sold online at: lhspa.booktix.com.
To help showcase our local talent appearing in the musical, we caught up with the cast for a little Q&A:
Jack Brown
Part in Musical: Gomez Addams
Current Grade: 12th
Been in musicals/plays since: I started in second grade (this is my ninth musical)
Previous leads/musicals you’ve been in: I was Mr. Brooke in Little Women, George Banks in Mary Poppins, and Shrek in Shrek the Musical.
Favorite Song in this musical: Happy/Sad is my absolute favorite song I get to sing. It is a bittersweet moment between Gomez and Wednesday and I look forward to it every night!
What interested you in this role: The goofiness and flair of Gomez really had me interested, plus all of his songs are fantastic!
What is an iconic prop in the musical or favorite part of your costume: The sword is my favorite prop, because it is so weird to any character that isn’t a part of the Addams.
What type of obstacles have you faced this year in trying to present an authentic performance with social distancing and facemasks as part of the mix: The clear masks have definitely presented an obstacle in the amount of air we usually get and trying to figure out how we would sound with our mics, but in the end it has all worked out well!
What’s the hardest part about your role: The hardest part would have to be simply having enough energy to get through the show! I always seem to be fine in the end, but it takes a lot out of me!
Has your character taught you anything “life changing” or that will stay with you after the show: This show has taught me that life is unexpected and can throw you every which way, but happiness and love will persevere.
What do you think the audience will like about the musical: I think they will like the craziness that ensues. Most people know what The Addams Family is, but this musical is wacky from start to finish!
What is unique about this musical: This musical has some really sweet and tender moments which I personally thought was a bit unexpected!
What other activities are you involved in: I am involved in Peer Leadership, French Club, and the choir at Lincoln High School.
Future plans: My future plans include going to BC3 and then transferring to Slippery Rock University for Secondary Education.
Sarah Boots
Part in Musical: Morticia Addams
Current Grade: 12
Been in musicals/plays since: 11th grade
Previous leads/musicals you’ve been in: My first musical was Shrek, last year!
Favorite Song in this musical: Just Around the Corner
What interested you in this role: Morticia is sarcastic, and funny, and such a fun role to play!
What is an iconic prop in the musical or favorite part of your costume: My favorite part of my costume is when I put on an apron to run out on stage, and act as if I was just baking, in an effort to seem like a “normal” mother!
What type of obstacles have you faced this year in trying to present an authentic performance with social distancing and facemasks as part of the mix: Social distancing, and needing to wear masks, have both been challenging while trying to put on a show. I would say the biggest obstacle was quarantine. I personally had to quarantine a couple times, as did other cast members, and that meant attending rehearsal via google meets, which was very difficult when trying to learn the part.
What’s the hardest part about your role: I would say the hardest part about this role is keeping a straight face, and remaining serious throughout the show. Morticia is not a bubbly person, and I had to get used to not smiling on stage!
Has your character taught you anything “life changing” or that will stay with you after the show: Morticia marches to the beat of her own drum. She thinks that others are weird when they abide by societal rules, and she lives her life exactly how she wants, without any regard to others opinions.
What do you think the audience will like about the musical: I think the audience will love how unique, and funny this show is!
What is unique about this musical: This musical puts a dark twist on just about everything, which makes it unique!
What other activities are you involved in: I am involved in choir at Lincoln, and various clubs at my school.
Future plans: I plan to attend college, and pursue a career as a pediatrician.
Scarlett Hazen
Part in Musical: Wednesday Addams
Current Grade: 12th grade
Been in musicals/plays since: I was in my first musical in 5th grade, and I have been in every show since except for one.
Previous leads/musicals you’ve been in: The Wizard of Oz; Into the Woods; The Little Mermaid; Little Women; Mary Poppins (as Michael Banks); Shrek (as Teenage Fiona, Peter Pan, and Blind Mouse)
Favorite Song in this musical: Crazier Than You, I sing it with three other people and it is such a fun song to sing and act out, I always have a blast during that scene.
What interested you in this role: I would be playing a character that is completely different from me in real life, and it is a very funny role.
What is an iconic prop in the musical or favorite part of your costume: I have a fake bird that I get to pretend to strangle for one song, and after it is “dead” I get to throw it at the audience, which is so hysterical to me.
What types of obstacles have you faced this year in trying to present an authentic performance with social distancing and facemasks as part of the mix: It is much more difficult to sing and dance with the masks on because it makes it harder to take deep breaths and get good support. Plus, with the masks covering our faces, the audience cannot see our expressions or hear us as well, so we have to be extra emotive with our faces and enunciate our words.
What’s the hardest part about your role: The musical itself and my castmates are very funny, and it is extremely difficult to keep an unenthused expression on my face on stage; I just want to burst out laughing, especially when someone improvises a funny line and I’m not expecting it.
Has your character taught you anything “life changing” or that will stay with you after the show: This character taught me that being normal is completely overrated; to quote Sarah Boots as Morticia, “normal is just an illusion,” and it is much better to be yourself and be happy than to try to become something else to please other people.
What do you think the audience will like about the musical: There are a lot of hilarious lines and moments that are unexpected and highly amusing, and the songs are all very beautiful and lovely to listen to.
What is unique about this musical: There is a lot of darker humor that would not be typical in a school musical, we even had to cut some parts out so that it would be more appropriate for audiences.
What other activities are you involved in: I am in choir and various clubs in school.
Future plans: I plan to go to college to become a teacher, but I’m still exploring my options.
Tanner Tomak
Part in Musical: Pugsley Addams (The Little Brother), and Gomez Addams Understudy
Lindsay Meskel
Part in Musical: Grandma
Current Grade: 12
Been in musicals/plays since: 8th grade
Previous leads/musicals you’ve been in: I was Ms. Brill in Mary Poppins and Pinocchio in Shrek
Favorite Song in this musical: Secrets
What interested you in this role: The bizarre sense of humor she has
What is an iconic prop in the musical or favorite part of your costume: My pet rat Mortimer Addams
What type of obstacles have you faced this year in trying to present an authentic performance with social distancing and facemasks as part of the mix: Well it was hard for us to hear one another and react with the masks on but wearing microphone and clear masks has helped us adjust to that issue
What’s the hardest part about your role: Honestly this role isn’t hard at all, it’s fun to play and there aren’t that many lines
Has your character taught you anything “life changing” or that will stay with you after the show: Not my character in particular but the family as a whole has taught me that “normal” is what you make it and it’s different for everyone. So rather then trying to be “normal” being yourself is the best thing you can be
What do you think the audience will like about the musical: The humor of the Addams Family is very opposite then what people expect, and I think they’ll enjoy that the most
What is unique about this musical: That the Addams family is so weird and blunt with a huge passion for the dark which is abnormal and very very funny
What other activities are you involved in: Marching band and drama club
Future plans: To pursue a career in therapy
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