Mt. Pleasant High School’s theater department will bring a spooky and entertaining twist to the stage with its production of “The Addams Family – School Edition.” Running from March 13 to March 16, the musical will showcase students in iconic roles as they bring the beloved story to life.
“The Addams Family – School Edition” is meant to be a comedic musical adaptation of the classic characters from the 1960s television series, “The Addams Family.” This musical follows Wednesday Addams through her journey of falling in love with a seemingly typical midwestern man from Ohio, leading to a whirlwind of humor and havoc that ensues when their families come together for the first time.
“The musical takes the idea of ‘The Addams Family’ and answers the question about how each member would react to Wednesday growing up and getting secretly engaged,” shares Wendy Hoyle, this year’s director, who is a teacher at Mt. Pleasant Middle School and a graduate of
Mt. Pleasant Public Schools (MPPS). “Each Addams family member will deal with this change differently and the audience will get to see the chaos that emerges due to it.”
Throughout the musical, several themes will emerge that offer the audience a chance to deeply connect with the characters on stage.
“I think every family has to learn how to cope with the ever-changing dynamics of a family unit through the course of time and that is what is so relatable,” Hoyle says.
In a school edition, the director’s notes have been incorporated into the script, and song arrangements have been adjusted to suit the skill level of the high school performers. The Mt. Pleasant High School students are tackling the challenge with artistic flair, conveying deep emotions and themes through their performances on stage.
“‘The Addams Family – School Edition’ is a great fit for this group of students,” says Hoyle. “In order to pull off a show like ‘The Addams Family,’ you need to have several talented character actors and a solid ensemble. Each actor brings their own unique spin to their character and that is what makes the show great,” Hoyle says.
“The audience will see Wednesday struggling with positive and happy emotions in her song, ‘Pulled,’ while Gomez comes to grips with his daughter growing up in ‘Happy Sad,’” says Hoyle. “Morticia struggles with knowing her husband is keeping something from her in ‘Secrets’ and cheers herself up with ‘Death is Just Around the Corner.’ Pugsley doesn’t want his sister to stop torturing him in ‘What If’ and Fester is in his own little love story in ‘The Moon and Me.’”
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Courtesy Wendy Hoyle / Mt. Pleasant Public Schools“Each actor brings their own unique spin to their character and that is what makes the show great,” Hoyle says of the student cast.The plot of this musical production is made even more intricate when the ancestors of the Addams family are introduced, aiding in keeping Wednesday and the Ohio native together upon the enlistment of the beloved character, Uncle Fester.
“I think of the ensemble, the ancestors of the Addams family, as the backbone of the production,” Hoyle explains. “Each ancestor has their own backstory and specific way they died in order to bring that character to life again.”
“Each one plays an integral role in telling this story and they do it well,” she says with pride.
“Our leads have mastered the quirkiness of Gomez, the painfully seriousness of Morticia, the morbidity of Wednesday, the stoicness of Lurch, the outlandishness of Uncle Fester, the masochistic nature of Pugsley and there is no one else quite like Grandma,” Hoyle continues.
Hoyle’s description of and tribute to the characters highlight the numerous roles of this complex musical production, showcasing the talent that will be on display during the performances.
“The production team has made all the difference for this show,” Hoyle shares of the production’s behind-the-scenes talent. “The crew of students [responsible for helping] with the technical aspects of the show has been invaluable … Many have attended every rehearsal and coordinated scene changes … They are an amazing group of students.”
The production has been enhanced with the support of various individuals with specific expertise from the MPPS community.
“The preparation and expertise of our vocal director, Irene Cline, has been invaluable,” Hoyle says. “You will also see the genius of our choreographer, Kevin Thrasher, throughout the show. His background in contortionism and dance has allowed our students to showcase some of their unique talents on the stage.”
Cline, a Central Michigan University graduate, serves as the choir and orchestra teacher at MPPS, while Thrasher is the assistant to the superintendent.
“Our orchestra/pit is recognized under the direction of Emma Longoria,” says Hoyle of the Mt. Pleasant Middle School music teacher. “Her work with them is integral to the success of the show!”
Support of the students continues into the broader Mt. Pleasant community as well.
“We have also had help from many parents and family members in the past [three] months. They have helped with costumes, make-up, set-building, promotion, and props,” Hoyle said. “Each person involved in this show shares credit for how wonderfully entertaining it will be.”
The musical has additionally drawn John Klak, former Mt. Pleasant High School drama teacher and director, out of retirement to lend his expertise. A video of Klak went viral on social media last year when MPPS theater program alumni returned to perform in honor of his retirement. A key figure in this production, Klak has also earned numerous accolades for his contributions to the Mt. Pleasant High School theater program throughout his career.
“John Klak is our technical director and producer,” shares Hoyle. “Without his expertise and experience, our show would not be possible. He has put together a killer set.”
“We will give you plenty of opportunities to laugh and be amazed by the talented acting, singing and dancing,” Hoyle says of the 2025 Mt. Pleasant High School musical.
“The Addams Family – School Edition” performances will take place March 13 through March 16 at the Performing Arts Center Auditorium at 1155 South Elizabeth Street in Mt. Pleasant. Advance tickets can be purchased
here.