The Walker Upper School is presenting “The Addams Family” on November 11, 12, and 14 at 7:00 p.m. and November 13 at 5:00 p.m. in Walker’s Coca- Cola Family Auditorium. Tickets can be ordered online at http://www.thewalkerschool.org/arts/theater-tickets/index.aspx or http://thewalkerschool.ticketleap.com/ or using a form available in the Upper School office.

The show is directed and choreographed by Upper School drama teacher Katie Arjona with music teacher Samantha Walker as the vocal music director. Other key faculty assets to the production are: John Richardson (Ticketing/ Publicity/ Program Organizer), Bill Schreiner (Set Designer), Todd Motter (Pit  Conductor), Matt Eisenman (Lighting Director), Regina Simpson (Costume/ Arts Designer), and Wendy  Hawk (Props Organizer). The student production team includes senior Larkin Berrier (Stage Director), junior Elizabeth Perkerson (Assistant Stage Director), junior Peyton Duncan (Lead Sound Operator/ Head of Audio), freshman Hayes Zierden (Audio Assistant), freshman Michael Johnson (Spotlight), and the  stagecraft classes who help build the set. Another group that puts the show in action is the running crew comprised of juniors Allyson Nesmith and Ellen Roberts and sophomore Christine Adkins.

The Addams family is notorious for its grim yet quirky charm. The musical comedy features an original story. The wonderfully dark Wednesday Addams has fallen in love with a “normal” boy, Lucas Beineke, and she confides this to her father, Gomez, and asks that he keep the secret from her mother, Morticia. Once the Beinekes arrive to the Addams house of horrors, a dinner is hosted and the events that unravel forever change the lives of the entire family.

This production features several talented actors: Gomez will be played by the devilishly delightful Kenneth Laster (12th), and Morticia will be played by the fierce and multi-talented Deb Kemp (11th). The star of the show, Wednesday Addams, will be played by junior Briana Keegan whose vocals are sure to leave the audience begging for more. Her brother Pugsley will be played by a new break-out talent, freshman Dylan Alfi. Uncle Fester will be played by the hilariously relatable Sean Nesmith (10th) in his third consecutive show. Adding to the wacky family dynamics are Grandma, portrayed by junior Jesse Baynes, and everyone’s favorite zombie butler Lurch, played by junior Harrison Pritchett.

Wednesday’s love interest, Lucas Beineke, will be played by senior David Simpson who is guaranteed to make all the ladies swoon. His parents, Mal and Alice Beineke, will be portrayed by two of the NSA Players’ most talented members, senior Connor Barre and junior Meghan Dresdner. The catty banter between this couple will have you laughing until you cry.

The show also includes a ghostly chorus of Addams family ancestors; this ensemble will feature seniors Ryan Lauterbach and Mallory Schneiderman, juniors Oksana Carlson, Eileen Connell, Greg Lloyd, Ashwin Kanuru, and Hannah Manning, sophomores Zoey Brown and Riya Vashi, and freshmen Carter Ezell, Chandler Hanke, and Emmalissa Perkerson.

Music for “The Addams Family” will be enhanced by Walker’s outstanding pit orchestra led by Band Director Todd Motter. The orchestra features Erik Kofoed (MS Band director: Keyboard and extra percussion effects), seniors Diana Toro (Flute/Piccolo) and Brooke Werner (Flute/Pit Captain), juniors Jack Dresch (Clarinet/Saxophone/Alto Sax), Nick LaDue (Piano/Keyboard), and Addison Tharp (Trumpet), sophomores Alyssa Catlin (Flute), Riley Cohen (French Horn), Madison Dietz (Trombone), Andrew DuBois (Auxillary Percussion), and Elena Thornton (Electric Bass/Upright Bass), and freshman Duncan Noel (Violin).

Last but certainly not least, the crew who makes everyone look the part: the costumers! Senior Maggie Wright as Costume Mistress is the boss of these hard working ladies. Wright has taken part in every US production since her freshman year, and says, “I’ve dealt with a lot of diva’s in my past, but the biggest diva of them all continues to be myself!” Senior Isabelle Jordan as Lead Makeup Designer will spice up everyone’s features, and fellow senior’s Katie Ott and Sam Heilhecker are an amazing duo of fashionable Lead Costumers.  The newer costume crew members include juniors Madelyn Charles, Karen Li, and Chloe Scott, sophomores Ansley Carr, Didi Elder, Randi Epstein, Meyer Flaherty, and Grace Jarbeau, and freshmen Carlyn Blauvelt, Katrina Horowitz, Claire Mohandiss, and Clarisa Franceschi.

Tickets for this hilariously dark production will be selling fast, so get yours soon for a performance that will be to die for!