West Branch High School Performs The Addams Family

The West Branch music department continued its successful musical performances with a stage adaptation of The Addams Family November 2nd, 4th, and 5th in the high school auditorium.

Over 1,100 people enjoyed a musical that featured great acting and singing along with exceptional set design and special effects.  Led by director Krista Clay, over 75 West Branch students performed various roles in the 2 1/2 hour production.

The musical was a tale of love and acceptance between two very different families, the Addams family and the Beineke family.  

The Addams family patriarch Gomez was played by sophomore Gavin Clay.  Gavin has been in a number of performances at WBHS and also has been seen on stage at Carnation City Players in Alliance.  Gomez's wife Morticia was played by senior Charity Glista.  Charity has been heavily involved with the music department since before high school in productions such as Sound of Music, Matilda, Into the Woods, and Frozen. Wednesday Addams, who has gained a lot of popularity due to the recent success of Netflix's Wednesday, was played by sophomore Alli Kanagy.  Kanagy did a masterful job balancing the deep and dark despair of Wednesday along with the joy that finding love can bring a person.  The youngest Addams was played by seventh grader Landon Hobbins who took on his first large role on stage but has been seen previously in performances of Cinderella, Matilda, and Frozen Jr.  Rounding out the Addams family were Peter Blanchard who provided comic relief and narration as Uncle Fester, Mollie McDorman as Cousin It, and Kate Slutz as Grandma.  Jude Corallo played the often grunting, but with a hidden magical voice, butler Lurch.

Wednesday's love interest was Lucas Beineke was played by freshman Mason Brown.  Brown was last seen in the May production of Frozen Jr.  Lucas's mother Alice Beineke was played by senior Haley Close.  Haley has been seen in a number of stage roles both in and out of school. Married to Alice was Mal Beineke, performed by senior Christian Mikol. Christian has been a mainstay on the stage at WBHS including roles in Matilda, Into the Woods, and Frozen Jr.

The musical department will once again put on a performance in the spring that will be named at a later date.  Stay tuned for updates to the spring musical and how to get tickets.  Congratulations to Mrs. Clay along with the performers and crew who put on an outstanding performance.