On opening night of The Addams Family, Adam Deverville, junior, didn’t just play Gomez Addams, he became one of the production’s standout performers both on and off the stage.
His portrayal earned him a nomination for Best Performer in an Actor Role at the Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards, recognizing the dedication he brought to the role.
Twenty-four high school students were selected as nominees representing 95 Illinois schools. The nominees will attend the awards ceremony on May 11, 2026, at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, hosted by Matt Rodrigues.
As part of the program, students will rehearse and perform a number from Les Misérables under the direction of Broadway performer Lamont J. Whitaker. Industry professionals then evaluate the performances to select six finalists, eventually naming the Best Performer in an Actor Role and Actress Role.
“When I first found out that I had been nominated, I was completely in shock because it felt like a dream come true,” said Deverville. “I had the dream of being nominated for this award for a while now, but when I saw that it became a reality, I felt an immense sense of accomplishment.”
For Deverville, playing Gomez was more than memorizing lines and songs. The role pushed him into a leadership position within the cast, something that came naturally throughout rehearsals.
“It’s definitely helped me become more of a leader,” he said. “That’s kind of how he is in the show, and I’ve naturally stepped into that role with the cast.”
Deverville studied different portrayals of Gomez before developing his own interpretation of the character. While the accent itself came easily, maintaining it consistently throughout performances became one of the biggest challenges.
“The accent wasn’t difficult,” he said. “It was just hard to keep it consistent and not lose it every now and then.”
According to Jason Stevens, musical sponsor, that kind of discipline reflects the quick nature of the production process.
“It’s really about just working together as a group and being in the moment,” Stevens said. “Because we have so little time together, we have to be really focused when we are there.”
For Deverville, the payoff came once the curtain finally rose on opening night.
“The moment that everything clicked for me was when we started the first show,” he said. “Something about hearing the audience applauding right before the overture made everything make sense for me, and from there I knew I was ready.”
Looking back on the production, Deverville said the most rewarding part of the experience was seeing audiences connect with Gomez as a character.
“Every audience was very receptive to Gomez and seemed invested in him as a character, which was my ultimate goal,” he said. “My job is not for an audience to watch me, my job is for an audience to watch my character.”
