By Carli Johnson SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
On the evening of Sunday, Oct. 26, the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center transformed into a delightfully eerie mansion as students took the stage for the fall musical, “The Addams Family.” Typically, the school’s theater group performs a holiday production in December, but this year, they opted for a frightfully fun twist.
Produced by Barbara Rowley, the show featured a cast of both middle and high school students, many of whom also perform with Big Sky Broadway in the summer. Coordinating rehearsals proved to be the biggest challenge, Rowley explained in an email to EBS, as students balanced busy academic and extracurricular schedules.
Audience members were encouraged to dress up in Halloween costumes and trick or treat at intermission.
The matinee showing starred Elise Daugherty as Morticia Addams, Elliot Graham as Gomez Addams, Avery Graham as Wednesday Addams, Nikky Kamieniarz as Puglsey Addams, Frankie Seelye as Grandma, Lauren Jackson as Lurch, Grayson Kidd as Uncle Fester, Kate O’Connor as Alice Bienicke, Tristan Turley as Mal Bienicke, James Wilson as Lucas Bienicke, and an ensemble cast of Annie Coltea, Charlotte Merryman, Adeline Magrans and Olive Bibbins.
The evening show starred much of the same cast but with Olivia Kamieniarz as Wednesday Addams and Maren Sigourney as Alice Bienicke.
This year’s production also featured a new approach to casting. For the first time, Rowley allowed middle school boys to “play up,” a concept she borrowed from athletics after learning about it during a school board meeting. Four middle schoolers with years of Big Sky Broadway experience joined the high school cast, making the production possible.
“Their commitment, talent and experience were essential to our success,” Rowley stated. “In fact, without them, three of our high school seniors wouldn’t have had the opportunity to shine. [Seniors] Elise Daughtery, Olivia Kameiniarz and Avery Graham have honed their voices and acting chops for a decade, and I am so glad they were able to share their talents with our audiences.”
Another major addition this year was Tim Sullivan, LPHS music teacher, who stepped into a primary directorial role alongside WMPAC Executive Director John Zirkle. Sullivan brought his musical expertise and passion for student performance to the production.
“Tim’s involvement was essential, and his skill as an instructor and musician was clear. It was a total labor of love,” Rowley stated in the email.
The production team also included Kendall Jones, a new hire at WMPAC, who served as stage manager and lighting director.
Importantly, the high school musicals receive no funding from the Big Sky School District. They are produced through the Big Sky based nonprofit Big Opportunities, with essential support from the school district PTO and community ticket sales.
With a mix of haunting humor, heartfelt performances and community spirit, “The Addams Family” brought the Halloween spirit to Big Sky.
