The last time Jose Garcia was in a theatrical production was 14 years ago when he was a senior at Coral Shores High School. Today, the almost 31-year-old is taking on the role of Gomez in the upcoming Key Players production “The Addams Family,” a new musical comedy.
“It’s fun,” said Garcia, who tried out for the musical at the nudging of his wife.
“There’s a lot of adrenaline that goes on with it when you’re trying your best to perform.”
Garcia’s former high school drama teacher is directing the musical and says her former student was a natural for the role.
“He wanted to come back and do it and he is a perfect Gomez,” said director Michele Zofchak.
Zofchak is the drama teacher at Key Largo School. For this latest Key Players production, Zofchak, or Ms. Z as she’s often affectionately called, is directing a cast of 40-plus actors, made up of kids and adults alike. She’s anticipating a smash hit.
“Our rehearsals have been better than any I can remember because everyone has come in prepared, they’ve learned their music, they’ve had their lines memorized, so we’re able to really get into the technical aspect,” said Zofchak.
This is Phoenix Bello’s first time on stage. The Coral Shores High School senior was cast in an understudy role, playing Lurch. He says being part of a production can be challenging.
“I think it’s just getting everything right, like all the lyrics, singing in the right tone and all that,” said Bello.
Backstage show preparations are in full gear as well. John Pettit is just one of several volunteers helping to build the intricate and quite spooky set.
“My friends and I made this stretcher torture machine that some guy’s going to get on and get stretched and then we made this gothic chair,” said Pettit, who recently joined the Key Players and had an acting role in “Escape to Margaritaville.” Pettit says working behind the scenes is just as rewarding as being on stage. “Whatever they need help with, I’m enjoying the heck out of it,” he added.
“The Addams Family” musical centers on a ghoulish American family with an affinity for all things gruesome and morbid. The central plot revolves around Wednesday Addams, who falls in love with a normal young man named Lucas from a conventional family. Chaos follows when Lucas and his parents are invited over for dinner.
Jayden Ferrell, an accomplished actor and singer, who also happens to be blind, plays Lucas. He graduated from Coral Shores High School in 2023 and now attends Florida International University. This is Ferrell’s first leading role in a Key Players production.
“I like theater. It makes me feel included in society. It’s like one of the only things you can be blind and still be able to be really good at,” explained Ferrell.
“To be able to have a blind person on stage in a lead role, that’s what Key Players is all about,” said longtime Key Players director and producer Jonelle Kop.
For Kop, this upcoming production is especially meaningful. Kop has been part of the volunteer theater troupe for the last 23 years and has been involved in 28 productions.
“This is my first time in a lead role in a musical,” said Kop. “This is actually a dream come true for me.” Kop became choked up talking about her emotional journey with the theater. The 68-year-old always wanted to be an actress, but very early on was dissuaded from chasing her dream.
“When I grew up, I loved the drama and I wanted to be an actress, but my teachers and counselors told me that my voice wasn’t good enough, I wasn’t pretty enough, I wasn’t thin enough, my dancing was subpar and I would never get any kind of a lead role or even be on stage in a musical, it just was impossible,” recalled Kop.
Zofchak encouraged Kop to audition and she landed the role of the grandmother.
“I bucked up, I got on stage, I turned on the music and I sang,” recalled Kop of her audition. “It took me 50 years to get here; what can I say, it took me 50 years to get on stage in a musical,” said Kop, who is also co-producing this musical with Zofchak.
“The Addams Family” will take place at the Coral Shores High School Performing Arts Center. It’s a large venue and organizers are hoping to bring in 200 to 300 people a night. Opening night is Thursday, Oct. 24 and there will be a total of seven performances. More information is at thekeyplayers.org.
