Upper School Performers Recreate ‘Addams Family’ Musical Performances for Digital Audience

The cast for the Upper School musical The Addams Family was fully rehearsed and ready to go when the school closure caused a postponement of the shows.

 

Undaunted, director Dan Pacheco and the talented Tartan performers had an innovative idea.

 

“I wanted the students to show the product of their learning and also reach a wide audience digitally,” he said.

 

That led to the recreation of two musical numbers from the show, with multiple students performing individually at their homes and all the videos compiled and made into a short film by St. Margaret’s film teacher Karen Bennett. The set of the musical, which is currently up in Hurlbut Theater, was inserted as a backdrop.

 

The first film released, “Trapped” has received positive feedback on social media, including compliments from Broadway star and Tony Award winner Laura Benanti. “Trapped” was performed by Nicholas Jacome, Conrad Kistler, Cole Robinson, Rylan Rodrigues-Zahn, and James Kim. 

The second film was the duet “Secrets” performed by Zoe Shor and Lorelei Blau.

 

“From a technical perspective, these videos are challenging to not only coordinate, but also produce,” Mr. Pacheco said. “The end result, while not perfect or as good as it would have been on stage and live, has made all of the work worthwhile. It is exciting to make these performances come to life even when the student performers are far away from each other.”

 

“I am thankful for the opportunity we have to work innovatively like this at St. Margaret’s.”