Get out your dictionaries! Stage Right Productions/2nd Street Theater presents The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee by William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin, April 3-18. There will be an opening night Champagne Reception on Friday, April 3 from 6:30-7:30pm. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and two Sunday Matinees at 3pm.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee centers on a fictional spelling bee set in a geographically ambiguous Putnam Valley Middle School. This hip musical comedy follows six quirky but loveable adolescents (all played by grown-ups) in the throes of puberty, overseen by adults that haven’t quite let go of their own childhood. They learn that winning isn’t everything and that losing doesn’t necessarily make you a loser.
At each performance, audience members are interviewed and four are invited on stage to participate in the Bee, making each performance unique and fun. The Putnam County Spelling Bee is recommended for theatergoers 13 and over.
“We have assembled an incredibly talented cast and crew for this hilarious show,” says Director Karen Sipes. “As a director, my focus has been on guiding the nine actor/singers in developing these beautifully written, fabulously quirky characters, the pathos, angst and hilarity, all set in a surreal portrayal of the competitive spelling bee world. By the end of the show, we have fallen in love with these characters and probably recognize something of ourselves in each of them.”
Stage Right Productions is partnering with SMART (Start Making a Reader Today) and will feature SMART Saturdays. There will be trivia questions, prizes and a portion of Saturday Night’s performance proceeds will be donated to SMART.
Directed by Karen Sipes, Musical Direction by Scott Michaelsen. Bee was nominated for six Tony awards. The show features some of Central Oregon’s favorite actors, including Tommy Kuchulis (Evil Dead), Kara Davison and Ryan Klontz (Les Miserables, Beauty and the Beast), Matthew Vigil (Spamalot, Sweeney Todd), Dani Herron (Reefer Madness), Brad Knowles (Bend Improv Group), Jamie Speed (Les Miserables) and newcomers Bradley Rode and Robin Edwards.
Tickets are $22 adult, $19 Student/Senior (over 60).
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