Submitted photo EHS students rehearse ‘The Addams Family.’ Pictured are Max Mattingly (Mal Beineke), Allysun Hammond (Alice Beineke), Felix Schwab (Lucas Beineke), Emma Chua (Wednesday Addams), Hailey Schwab (Morticia) and Hannah Steiger (Gomez).

Submitted photo
EHS students rehearse ‘The Addams Family.’ Pictured are Max Mattingly (Mal Beineke), Allysun Hammond (Alice Beineke), Felix Schwab (Lucas Beineke), Emma Chua (Wednesday Addams), Hailey Schwab (Morticia) and Hannah Steiger (Gomez).

ELKINS — Elkins High School students are preparing to perform the play “The Addams Family,” which will be presented to the public on Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18 at 7 p.m. and on Sunday, May 19 at 2 p.m.

The play includes humor, as it is a comedy, along with an irreverent approach to darker things, for which the Addams family is known for. Also, the play contains singing and dancing, for even more added entertainment.

The musical was written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with lyrics and music by Andrew Lippa. It is produced by special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide.

“The Addams Family” features an original story, and it’s every father’s nightmare. Wednesday Addams (Emma Chua), the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family, Lucas Beineke (Felix Schwab) — a man her parents have never met.

If that were not upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams (Hannah Steiger) must do something he’s never done before — keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia (Hailey Goss).

Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.

The idea to produce “The Addams Family” started when EHS student Emma Chua competed at the 2018 West Virginia Thespian Festival with “Pulled,” a musical number from the production.

“When I heard her sing it, it sent a shiver down my spine,” says Matthew Taylor, who teachers both theatre and English at EHS. “I knew I had to bring this feeling to our audience.”

Chua’s solo musical theatre performance was chosen as one of the best in the state, and she went on to compete at the International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, Nebraska. Chua will be starring as Wednesday in the EHS production.

“They are definitely the hardest-working group of students I have had in years, maybe even the hardest-working group I’ve had in a decade.” says Taylor.

The cost for the play is $10 for adults and the show is free for Elkins High School students. Tickets are available at the door or at www.ElkinsDrama.org.