Annual Musical Theatre: The Addams Family

In four performances, over a thousand audience members from the BBSG community visited our Performing Arts Centre to enjoy our annual musical theatre production, the Broadway classic The Addams Family. The cast put on amazing performances after just ten weeks of dedicated after-school preparation.

As the premiere approached, anticipation grew among everyone involved. The students impressed audiences with their stunning vocal performances, choreography, fluent lines, and confident presentations, proving that the wait was worthwhile.

A Humorous and Touching Story

As the curtain rose, the audience was greeted by a moonlit, eerie night outside a mysterious castle. The enchanting atmosphere immersed everyone in a wondrous tale of family and love.

THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family, features an original story and it’s 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. And 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’s never done before – keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents.

The Addams family took the stage, presenting a wicked yet humorous story.

Congratulations to the cast and the entire team! The success of the show not only acknowledges the remarkable performances but also pays tribute to the hard work and passion of all the teachers and students behind the production.

Behind the Scenes: Challenge and Growth

“This production has been a huge challenge for us,” said Mr. Lloyd, the music director and production manager. Learning all the songs, movements, and lines in such a short timeframe posed significant hurdles at the beginning.

The cast comprised students from different classes and school sections, making it difficult to coordinate group rehearsals. Initially, the team utilised their CCA and ECA time for rehearsals, but progress was not satisfactory. With support from the school and parents, they took the initiative to practice during lunch breaks and even on weekends to ensure quality rehearsal time.

Throughout the rehearsal process, each actor faced their own challenges.

Uncle Fester - Year 7, Eric O

"Uncle Fester is a very peculiar character with many strange actions and lines, which made it awkward for me to portray someone so different from myself. I spent a lot of time studying this character, and the teachers and cast members provided invaluable help with my movements and lines, allowing me to express the character comfortably."

Morticia Addams - Year 8, Angel Y

"Three weeks before the show, I was selected for the lead role. I felt a mix of excitement and immense pressure. While everyone else was off-book, I was still memorising my lines. However, the teachers and my peers offered tremendous support, even arranging one-on-one sessions with me. I'm not a fast learner, but their help enabled me to adjust quickly. Within about a week, I was able to perform without my script, which significantly boosted my confidence."

As Mr. Lloyd shared, finding a character can be tricky as it requires vulnerability and experimentation, which might feel awkward at first. However, the more you try and seek reactions or feedback, the clearer and better your character becomes. Throughout this process, our students relied on each other and grew together as a group. And each rehearsal improved upon the last.

Find and Live Up to Your Potential

There were also some hidden surprises during the show!

In addition to the cast, some students, teachers, and even school leaders participated by recording videos for the play. These moments added a comedic yet heartfelt touch, showcasing the love and spirit of the BBSG community. We all came together to bring to life a production we can be proud of.

The cast delivered their best performance to the audience. This experience has helped students realise their potential in the performing arts and find confidence to explore new possibilities.

"My character is cold and mean, which is completely not me! To master this role, I practised repeatedly, even on my way to school, using my parents' feedback for improvements. Although I had stage experience before, this was my best performance so far. I really pushed myself to my limits, and the experience has given me the confidence to take on bigger stages."

——Anny Z

"It's my first time on stage as a main character. I was nervous, but the performance went really well. The most exciting part was when the audience reacted to our acting; I felt they truly understood our jokes."

——Alice L

“I received a lot of compliments after the show. My mum came to watch twice, and she was extremely proud of me. This performance revealed a different side of me that she hadn’t seen before.”

——Angel Y

In addition to stage experience, this unique journey will become a valuable shared memory for the entire cast, inspiring them to embrace challenges in their future studies and lives with confidence.

As an important pillar of BBSG's Complete education, the performing arts help shape students' self-confidence, encourage them to appreciate their strengths, and unlock their potential through the stage.

As Mr. Lloyd mentioned at the end, we should take pride in the diverse skills each person brings to the show. We have strong singers, talented actors, and great dancers. By combining our skills, we created a fantastic performance. That’s the beauty of our community; we learn and grow from each other, resulting in something extraordinary.

Congratulations again to The Addams Family team!