ROC City Players prepare to bring The Addams Family to the stage with 100 students showcasing their summer theater talents

Rochester, New York – A group of young performers in Rochester is preparing to bring a popular musical comedy to life as the ROC City Players Summer Program gets ready for its production of The Addams Family. More than 100 students are taking part in the program and have spent weeks developing their skills in acting, singing, dancing, and stage production ahead of the upcoming shows.

The students recently gave viewers a preview of their work during an appearance on Channel 13’s Good Day Rochester morning program. The early morning performance highlighted the dedication and preparation that has gone into creating this year’s production.

ROC City Players Co-Founder Taylor Johnson said the students have been working hard every day to prepare for opening night. The young performers have been spending long hours rehearsing while also learning many of the behind-the-scenes skills needed to bring a full musical production together.

“They are singing, dancing, acting, painting, and cutting wood,” said Ms. Johnson. “They are just very focused on it to get this show ready to go.”

The summer program gives students the opportunity to experience every part of theater production, both on stage and behind the scenes. In addition to the performers, 16 student interns are receiving paid positions through a City of Rochester summer program, allowing them to gain professional experience while supporting the production.

Read also: Monroe County Executive Adam Bello announces new grant opportunities to support mid-sized arts groups with 2026 operating expenses

Staff member Eric Williamson is serving as co-director of the show along with Max Salinas-Miner, a recent graduate of the School of the Arts. For Max, the opportunity provides valuable experience and a chance to take on a leadership role at a young age.

“Being able to do this, especially as a young adult, it’s really amazing to have this amount of responsibility, and people respect me,” said Max.

The ROC City Players program is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Founded in 2017 by Taylor Johnson, who serves as District musical director and music teacher at Dr. Iris J. Banister School No. 33, the program was created to give students the chance to rehearse and perform complete musical productions.

Read also: Governor Hochul partners with CVS to bring temporary mobile pharmacy services back to Pawling residents after devastating fire

Over the years, ROC City Players has introduced Rochester audiences to a wide variety of well-known shows. Previous productions have included The Wiz, Beauty and the Beast, Shrek, Newsies Jr., Mary Poppins, Jr., Matilda, Jr., Cats, and In the Heights.

Organizers say the program not only helps students develop performance skills but also encourages teamwork, creativity, confidence, and responsibility. Through the process of preparing a full-scale musical, students learn about the many different jobs involved in theater, from performing on stage to building sets and creating the visual elements of the production.

This year’s production of The Addams Family will feature the work of students who have spent much of their summer focused on bringing the show together. The performances will be held on Thursday, August 6, and Friday, August 7, with shows scheduled for both mornings and evenings.

Showtimes are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on both days. All performances are free and open to the public, giving families and community members the opportunity to support Rochester’s young performers and enjoy the summer production.