After submitting to perform the fall musical, “Footloose,” at the Kansas Thespian Festival previously, theatre director Bryce Jones said he is aspiring to make a comeback this year with their upcoming production, “The Addams Family.” The yearly festival permits school theater productions to be shared in the company of other theatre companies from across the state.
With KTF being set in January, the cast and crew of “The Addams Family” are preparing to pack up and take the show on the road to Wichita in the case that they are selected to perform. Jones said that they have numerous talented upperclassmen, and they should have the opportunity to be showcased. Therefore, Jones said that he is pushing harder this year to get the musical into the KTF program.
“What motivates me is that [students] need to be seen by other theater students, directors and colleges that are there,” Jones said.
Because “The Addams Family” performance date is set in November, Jones said that he, along with other students, is trying to plan accordingly so they are ready for the festival. Jones said that he is preparing for a few students not to be able to attend the festival.
“We would try to sub somebody in. There are some ways to facilitate potential performances of other people or get individuals down for a limited amount of time,” Jones said.
Senior Mimi Wood, playing Morticia, said she is not sure if she will be making it to KTF this January because of a personal trip she has planned. She also said that some students may have conflicts on the day of KTF.
Wood also said there’s a chance The Addams Family won’t be selected because of heavy competition; however, Wood said that she is still preparing to perform in January.
“I just started taking vocal lessons to hopefully help me feel more confident. I bought heels because my character has to look like she was born in heels, so I’m wearing those every day,” Wood said.
Sophomore Lily Davis, who is playing Wednesday Addams, said that she thinks the play has a chance of being chosen for KTF. Moreover, Davis said that she thinks this could be an opportunity for some students to explore what they are passionate about.
“It’ll be a memory that all of us will forever hold. For those who want to pursue theater or performance or tech as a career, this is the really big push into doing that,” Davis said. “It’s really just an awesome opportunity that not many get to have.”
