Video: A New York High School Puts on a Bilingual The Addams Family

Following a successful run at the Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (WHEELS), a new documentary-style feature is pulling back the curtain on a landmark theatrical event: the first-of-its-kind bilingual production of The Addams Family Musical: School Edition.

To go inside WHEELS’s bilingual production of The Addams Family Musical: School Edition and hear from students and staff about their “crazy, kooky, and bilingual” experience in the video above.  This special video presentation, a collaboration between Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) and the Bilingual Broadway Collective (BBCo), goes beyond the performance to explore the professional process of bringing a "Bilingual Broadway REMEZCLA" to life.

The heart of the "REMEZCLA" lies in its narrative-driven linguistic split. In this production, the Addams Family (Gomez, Morticia, and the ancestors) sing and speak in both Spanish and English, while the Beinekes remain in English. This creative choice heightens the cultural "clash" at the center of the story, making the eventual union of the two families even more powerful.

This Playbillder Video Spotlight features captures candid reflections from the students on how performing in their native languages fostered a deeper sense of belonging and pride, turning a classic musical into a vibrant celebration of Washington Heights' cultural identity.

The feature serves as a roadmap for educators and theater creators, highlighting the seamless synergy between creative vision and professional resources. The cast and creative team discuss the logistical journey of licensing this unique version through TRW, ensuring that the artistic integrity of the original work was maintained while adapting it for a dual-language community.

A key component of the spotlight is the use of Playbillder to elevate their production. The video showcases how the platform allowed the WHEELS team to create professional-grade programs that integrated both English and Spanish, providing a tangible connection between the student performers and the Broadway standard. By documenting their experience, the students and creative team demonstrate how Playbillder acts as a vital tool for community engagement and professional development in school theatre programs.

Playbill would like to thank Luis E. Mora, Brett Tubbs, Kevin Luis and Belén Moyano from Bilingual Broadway Collective, and Marshall Foltz, Catherine Daigle and Mike Cefalo from Theatrical Rights Worldwide for their support in this very special Playbillder Spotlight Video Feature.

If you would like to apply to license a bilingual or English production of The Addams Family Musical, visit Theatrical Rights Worldwide’s website, where you can find the perfect edition for your stage—from the Full-Length Broadway Edition to the School Edition, Young@Part and Younger@Part editions for young actors.