The Addams Family plans to visit Roseburg High School

They’re taking the time to share their story of love and friendship, even through adversity, with those who dare learn about their bizarre lifestyle.

The Roseburg High School theater department is presenting its newest musical, “The Addams Family,” starting Thursday in the Rose Theater.

“The overarching lesson of this show is: no amount of chaos can destroy the love of family,” Heath Reneau said. Heath plays Mal Beineke, who is meant to be “normal” and brings an element of humor as the “norms” react to the Addams’ wacky and twisted reality.

Wednesday Addams, a pale-faced girl with dark black pigtail braids, falls in love with a boy opposite to her monotone-voiced and love-of-darkness self. But that’s just one member of the boisterous family, who will share her experiences of love.

Emma Opp, who plays Wednesday Addams, said she hopes the audience get a good laugh out of the show and can recognize the hard work put into it.

“The excitement of getting to show off something that you’ve worked so hard on is unmatched,” Emma said.

Gomez Addams, played by Andrew Schnautz, is the head of the family. He’s a proud husband and father, he’s a headstrong, outgoing and caring family man, but Andrew is sure to bring a bit of himself into the show through his role.

“I hope the audience can take away the level of production high schoolers can put on and the level of talent we have on the cast,” Andrew said.

Troy Pennington, Roseburg High School drama/theater teacher, said this is the first time he’s directed the play. He wanted to choose a show with many leading roles and a possibility for a large ensemble for their first musical.

“We have students with a lot of experience and students with no experience in the theater. But that’s why we do these shows: to give the students the opportunity to participate in and understand what it’s like to put on a massive show,” Pennington said. “And this show is massive.”

Auditions started at the beginning of February, so factoring in holidays and spring break, the crew had about eight weeks to put it all together.

There are 38 cast members, about 14 in the orchestra and nine tech crew members to man the lights, sound and stage — not including students who volunteered to run the box office, concessions and ushering for the show.

“It takes a village,” Pennington said.

Sahalie Nelson, plays Pugsley Addams, an “obnoxiously whiny” and “pretty stereotypical” younger sibling — except for his “strange torturous” aptitudes.

It’s Sahalie’s last year at Roseburg High School, but their first time playing a lead character. Sahalie works closely with the tech crew and spent their spring break building the set — which they said makes the show.

“I’m really excited to close out my high school shows with this one,” Sahalie said. It’s an experience they said they’ll remember for the rest of their life.

Other characters like Morticia Addams, the mother, played by Brooke Rodriguez, leave you wondering. Morticia and Gomez Addams have a complex backstory of how they got to where they are now.

Brooke said, “Morticia’s mysterious presence draws you in and leaves you wanting more.”