GRAND RAPIDS — For 18 years, the Grand Rapids Players have been guiding budding theater kids in summer camps. The non-profit group has a mission to build a stronger community through the art of theater.
10th grader Riley Wick plays the part of Gomez in this summer’s The Addams Family. “He’s really passionate and moves around, uses his hands a lot when he talks and really loves his wife,” Riley said of his character, during a conversation on the KAXE Morning Show.
The Addams Family is described by Theatrical Rights Worldwide as a ‘comical feast that embraces the wackiness of every family’.
Molly Dick is playing the role of Wednesday, the daughter of Gomez, “When you watch the movie, she has this darker kind of personality. But in the show, she’s a little more lighthearted and she really falls in love with Lucas,” said the 8th grader.
Molly is looking forward to the costumes and makeup that will transform her into her character Wednesday. “Now there’s a scene where we have to, like, fake a kiss, and it’s hard to do,” she said. “You just go into this different world, and you can portray that character.”
Brody Wilson is in the 10th grade and he plays Lucas in The Addams Family, who he described as Wednesday’s lover. “He’s actually a lot like me, I can talk pretty normally and it all works out. I don’t really have to change much, he sings a little bit high but I can get there.”
Brody is also in the Grand Rapids Players When Bad Things Happen to Good Actors, a one-act play showing the mayhem of live theater. “People forget their lines, “he said, “It’s just, it’s just chaos. Funny chaos and it’s a lot of fun to do.”
The student actors all agreed participating in summer theater camp could also be helpful in everyday life. Brody said, “When things go wrong, you just sometimes got to make it up on the fly”.
Over 50 area youth are taking the stage at the Wilcox Auditorium at the Reif Center.
“Once we get like all the set pieces in and we get effects like some fog or the lights, it’ll just be a really exciting thing to see,” said Riley of the culmination of the weeklong theater camp.
Performances of The Addams Family and When Bad Things Happen To Good Actors are at 6:30 PM on Friday, June 30 and at 2 PM on Saturday, July 1 with tickets available at the door.
Concessions will be available in the lobby. Underwritten by Oak Hill Assisted Living, Supported by the Cap Baker Lions Club of GR and funded by Arrowhead Regional Arts Council.
