When the curtain opened on The Addams Family musical in DuBois Theatre, those in attendance were in for an unforgettable show. Not only was the musical filled with entertaining music, dancing and plenty of comedic moments, but it was also the result of months of hard work and dedication. From the pit orchestra to the ensemble to the tech crew, everyone involved poured heart into this Blair Academy Players’ production, and that shared effort was what made it truly special.

For three nights only, the annual musical took over the Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts. Written by Marshall Rickman and Rick Ellice, with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, the show delivered a delightfully twisted celebration of a wonderfully weird family. At its heart is a brand-new tale: Wednesday Addams (Caroline Hackett ’28), gothic icon and daughter of doom, has fallen for Lucas Beineke (Ty Le Gates ’27), an outsider from a traditional family. Worse still, she confides in her father, Gomez (Jimmy Gibbons ’26), begging him not to tell her mother, Morticia (Penny Wardwell ’27). Sparks fly, secrets simmer and chaos brews when both families gather for a dinner that quickly spirals into the unexpected.

Director of Theatre L’Oreal Carter shared that the musical continues a larger exploration of love on stage that began with the rigid social circles of Pride and Prejudice in the fall and has moved to the macabre halls of the Addams home.

“This production looks closely at the bonds of family—immediate, extended and even ancestral,” Mrs. Carter explained before the show. “We witness the universal struggle of love: the tension between holding on tight and the necessity of letting go. While the Bennets navigated the expectations of their neighbors, the Addamses must navigate the expectations of their own history, literalized by the ghosts of their past.”

For the Blair students bringing the show to the big stage, the experience was a whirlwind. Caroline shared that the cast’s energy shaped every rehearsal. “This year, we have a really wonderful and dedicated cast that manages to turn every rehearsal into a fun experience,” she explained before the show. Maintaining Wednesday’s monotone persona through the production’s comedic moments proved one of the more difficult aspects of the show for Caroline. “The past three months have been full of hard work and passion from every actor on stage, and I am so thrilled to share this production with the community very soon.”

Behind the scenes and beneath the stage, the pit orchestra and production team were just as essential to the show’s success. Student director Ria Chae ’27 found returning to theatre felt like relearning a language she once spoke fluently. From coordinating logistics to performing in the pit, she gained a deeper appreciation for the collaboration required to bring a musical to life. “Experiencing a production from multiple perspectives has shaped the way I understand teamwork and creativity,” she reflected.

For senior Jailin James ’26, transforming the stage into an imaginary world each year is something that never loses its excitement. He described the thrill of watching an empty space turn into a complete set over the course of just a few months. “There’s so much work behind the scenes that people don’t always see, but it creates so much of the magic audiences love,” he said. “The actor’s job is to be the character. I help the audience see the characters and step into their world.”

Together, the performers, musicians and crew created more than just a show. As the cast took to the stage, the community enjoyed not only a hilarious and heartfelt musical, but the result of months of teamwork and passion.