New Lebanon School 5th graders are set to perform The Addams Family younger@part™ on Thursday, with an in school performance during the day and a 7:00pm show for family and friends.
The production was a long time in the making, due to delays caused by the pandemic, but rehearsals began in earnest in February, and 23 of the school’s 41 fifth graders are participating.
On Tuesday everything came together during dress rehearsal. As the backdrop of the Addams Family’s dilapidated mansion loomed large and a fog machine created an atmosphere of suspense, Wednesday Addams tightened a menacing torture rack. From there, the Addams and their ancestors aced their lines and the group dances were in sync.
Talented theater director Carol Pugliano, who teaches ALP at the school during the day, explained that the play was made possible in part from a $17,800 grant from the Greenwich Alliance for Education this year.
“This wonderful and generous grant from the Greenwich Alliance for Education has supported New Lebanon’s first ever theater program,” Pugliano explained. “It consisted of a K-2 theater program with after-school theater games, and a culminating performance of Plays through the Seasons. Also, a grade 3-5 Declamation, or monologue contest, where kids memorized speeches and presented to a panel of celebrity judges including the Greenwich First Selectman.”
Pugliano said the Alliance’s Reaching Out Grant also made it possible for every class in the school to travel to the Ridgefield Playhouse to experience a live play. Then, as a follow up, every class had an in-school workshop with a theater residency professional.
Executive director of the Greenwich Alliance, Julie Faryniarz, attended Tuesday’s polished dress rehearsal.
“We funded this grant because Carol is a true champion of the program and could say why this experience would matter and made a difference for the students here at New Lebanon School,” Faryniarz said. “Her passion resonated with everybody on the grants committee. Then they went back to the board and recommended this.”
“When I came to the Declamation contest and watched these little people and what they could memorize and act out, that was the start of something I thought was incredibly impressive,” Faryniarz added.
At the close of rehearsal, Faryniarz made a surprise announcement.
“We’re going to be making a grant for the 2022-2023 school year in the amount of about $28,000,” she said. “It’s much more than this year and it’s because Carol and her team of people here are so committed to this. And after seeing your performance, you’re incredible.”
Director: Carol Pugliano
Musical Director: Audrey Maurer
Choreographer: Dana Rodriguez
Costumes: Andrea Casson Vaz
Set Designers: Jaclyn Smith, Darina Fox
Gomez Addams – Rafael Rodriguez
Morticia Addams – Annamarie Henry-Tasca
Wednesday Addams – Caitlyn O’Neill
Pugsley Addams – Ayden Cardenas
Uncle Fester – Ethan Hardie
Grandma – Hayden Hickcox
Lurch – Eduardo Lopez
Lucas Beineke – Camren Adams
Mal Beineke – Julius Hill
Alice Beineke – Livia Cassiano
Addams Family Ancestors:
1950s Ancestor – Bertha Arrellano
1920s Ancestor – Katherine Cojitambo
Gothic Ancestor – Isabelly DaSilva
Hippie Ancestor – Danna Dias
Egyptian Ancestor – Emily Gordillo-Bueno
Victorian Ancestor – Hannah Hernandez
Baseball Player Ancestor – Liam Lancaster
Chef Ancestor – David Medel
Bride Ancestor – Jessica Orozco
Medieval Ancestor – Micaela Pastor
Gladiator Ancestor – Alex Rodriguez
Pioneer Ancestor – Ashly Sosa
Caveman Ancestor – David Yanez
