In the second week of May, Boone’s Performing Arts Center (PAC) will host the school’s latest production: “The Addams Family.”
Last year, the arts department put on the show “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” the first since the PAC was opened and only the second since 2020.
According to art teacher Heather Holbrook—who is one of the teachers in charge of the play— last year’s play was “an outstanding success” but this show will be different from last year with a bigger cast.
“We are able to have an ensemble,” Holbrook said. “This gives more students a chance to participate, and we can showcase how much talent we have here at Boone County High School.”
However with this show being bigger, there are many challenges that come with it.
“This show has a lot more songs, and more complicated choreography than last year,” Holbrook said. “At one point, a cast member will walk across the stage blindfolded.”
The play is a musical comedy that follows Wednesday Addams as she finds love but has to keep it from her mother. When Wednesday’s father finds out, he also has to keep the secret from his wife.
Many of the cast return from last year’s play, and though the play is different, the actors expect the fun in making the musical will be the same.
Junior Saint Manuwere, who plays the father Gomez, is excited to be involved because he likes “having fun and making people laugh.”
Junior Sammie Kolks, who plays the mother of Wednesday’s crush, likes that with her character she gets to add a unique aspect to contribute to the play.
“You get to make that role uniquely yours, and you get to be someone completely different,” Kolks said. “It gives me an outlet to be myself and play around with my characters.”
Kolks also enjoys the social aspect of being in the play.
“I love hanging out with my friends and it gives me opportunities to meet new people!”
Sophomore Jordan Cox—who plays Wednesday’s fiancé Lucas— enjoys similar things about being in the play.
“When you’re (playing) someone else, you don’t need to worry,” Cox said. “I have always loved theater and acting and I also truly believe being in the drama club brings people together and you make the closest of friends.”
The cast has been rehearsing since the second week of February, and so they have gotten to explore the characters and how they relate to them.
The cast is trying to also improve on things that will better their character.
Holbrook says that Manuewere is perfecting his Spanish accent to play Gomez, and sophomore Jack Hammonds—who plays Uncle Fester—has started teaching himself to play the ukulele.
Manuwere called Gomez a caring father to his children and wife, someone who values family and love over himself, and he sees himself in that.
“I am a family guy and love my family to death,” Manuwere said. “I’d do anything to support and be there for them.”
Kolks described Alice as a very optimistic character who wants her son to follow his heart.
“I feel like that relates to me because I always want the best for the people I care about,” Kolks said.
The show will be performed on May 10 and 11.
