The fine arts department will perform its all-school musical, “The Addams Family” Jan. 30 – Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium, with an understudy performance on Feb. 1 at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in the cafeteria or on their website for $10 – $25
“My hope for this show is that it brings laughter and light to those who need it,” student director Grant Koch said. “I want it to give a break for someone who needs one.”
The musical is based on the 1930s “Addams Family” cartoons, and it follows the dark and dreary family dealing with their daughter, Wednesday, falling in love with a normal man. The musical is rated PG-13 and intended for mature audiences.
“People are going to be shocked when they hear some of the jokes made in the show,” Koch said. “But this is for adults — it’s obvious. The comedic timing is going to be different, and that should be evident.”
This will be the first musical the school has put on without former assistant choir director Nathan Ratliff. Instead, head director Chelsey Thornburg is working with head choir director Alexander Carr, assistant choir director Kathryn Zetterstrom, director of bands Andy Sealy and assistant director Brock Alsaffar.
“‘Different’ is the only way to describe it,” Thornburg said. “Ratliff was like my musical buddy. We have to figure out new communication styles. [Ratliff] left a pretty big hole in the musical.”
The show will be submitted for Broadway Dallas and the Betty Buckley awards, where it can win nominations for technical elements and actors can receive nominations for their roles. Winners of Broadway Dallas can compete for a Jimmy Award — a national award for actors.
“I want to be happy with what we put on,” senior and lead Keane Nair said. “I hope we feel proud of what we did, regardless of how we do in any competition. Whether we get zero nominations or 10, I want everyone to feel like they did their part. I want us all to look back on this and think of how fun it was.”
Theater originally had “The Addams Family” on its roster as a theater-only production two years ago, but the plan fell through. Nair said the musical will resemble last year’s “Matilda” in its big musical numbers and ensemble.
“I’m glad the last musical I’ll do at Hebron is this one,” Nair said. “The senior class is full of so much talent, and we’ve all become really close with each other. This show has been a blast, but it’s [the people] that I’ll miss the most.”