On March 1 and 2, Rocky Point High School presented its school musical, “The Addams Family.” Student actors, student assistant directors, student pit orchestra musicians, student choreographers, student tech/sound/lighting crew, student set painters, student backstage crew, student stage managers, and student hair and makeup design crew all contributed to putting together an amazing set of performances on the stage at the Rocky Point High School Auditorium.
“The Addams Family” was a comical feast that embraced the wackiness in every family. It featured an original story that is every father’s nightmare: Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family, a man her parents have never met. If that wasn’t upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he has never done before – keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything changed for the whole family on the fateful night they hosted a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.
There were 50 cast members, 16 (student) pit orchestra members (which also included Rocky Point music department faculty Mr. Nicholas Butcher, Ms. Kyra Kenwood, Miss Emily Lamia, Mr. Vinny Ragona and Mrs. Meghan Walter), nine tech crew (sound/lights) members, 20 stage crew members, 16 cosmetology students helping with hair and make-up, and nine student set painters (some painters were also in crew), which made a total of 115 students involved in the musical. Auditions were in November, and rehearsals started in the first week of December. Rehearsals took place generally every day after school, on Saturdays, and during February’s winter recess. The students and staff rehearsed for three solid months to prepare for their production.
Special thanks and congratulations to Rocky Point music department staff members Ms. Amy Schecher, who served as executive director of the entire production, and pit orchestra director Miss Jessica Spitz, who served as director of dramatics, vocal director and props, and costume coordinator, and High School teacher Jaimie Mancini, who served as production manager and choreography director. Huge thanks and congratulations also to Joseph Gabrinowitz and Anthony Nobre, who oversaw scenic design and construction, Seth Meier who organized the set painting, Jeanne Stiastny who served as the cosmetology coordinator, and Michael Conlon, who oversaw lighting and sound. Additional thanks to Carrie George for all her assistance leading the sound and tech crew students during the performances.
“It was such a treat to work with this cast, pit and crew,” Miss Spitz said in a congratulatory message. “Besides working hard, they were so kind and professional through the whole process and it showed in their performances! They really embraced ‘family first and family last’ and worked as a team to bring every detail to life!”
“I am so incredibly proud of this very talented group, and I had such a great time working on this performance with our students,” Ms. Mancini said in a congratulatory message. “I get so much joy from this entire process, and it was very bittersweet when it came to an end. One of my favorite things to do is to watch the reactions from the audience on show night. To see the smiles, hear the laughs, to see how entertained they are, is just the best feeling! In that moment, I realize how much our collective hard work has paid off!”
“The students that participated in this production worked exceptionally hard this year, and we are lucky to have such committed and accomplished students here in Rocky Point,” Ms. Schecher said in a congratulatory message. “The level of talent, initiative, ability, self-determination and graciousness displayed by the students is remarkable! The Rocky Point music department is also very thankful to all the teachers and staff for their assistance and support with this musical. A production of this degree also could not be possible without the continuous encouragement of the parents of the cast, pit and crew. Being involved in the musical each year brings me great joy! It’s incredible what these students are capable of accomplishing.”
“This was a wonderful and perfectly cast production!” Rocky Point Elementary Music Department Chairperson Craig Knapp added. “It is such a delight to see what my former students can achieve in four to seven years after they move on from the JAE School. Their progress and advancement is tremendous, and I was in awe of the entire production. Seeing my former students performing on that stage with such artistry and independence fills me with pride. All the students involved represented the Rocky Point music department with dedication, hard work and the utmost level of skill. I am very proud of all the students and staff involved; the show was outstanding! Ms. Schecher and I would also like to thank the Rocky Point administration and Board of Education for continuing to support these musical undertakings.”
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Date Added: 3/7/2024