{"id":147790,"date":"2024-03-14T15:15:45","date_gmt":"2024-03-14T19:15:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/?p=147790"},"modified":"2024-03-18T08:17:46","modified_gmt":"2024-03-18T12:17:46","slug":"wright-state-theatre-presents-two-casts-in-charming-musical-25th-annual-putnam-county-spelling-bee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/2024\/03\/14\/wright-state-theatre-presents-two-casts-in-charming-musical-25th-annual-putnam-county-spelling-bee\/","title":{"rendered":"Wright State Theatre presents two casts in charming musical \u201825th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Wright State Theatre\u2019s will close its 2023\u20132024 season with the musical comedy \u201cThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee\u201d March 15 to 31 in the Festival Playhouse in the Creative Arts Center (Photos by Erin Pence)<\/p><\/div>\n

Two separate casts will close Wright State University Theatre\u2019s 2023\u20132024 season with the musical comedy \u201cThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee\u201d March 15 to 31.<\/p>\n

Performances are March 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30 at 8 p.m. and March 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31 at 2 p.m. in the Festival Playhouse in the Creative Arts Center.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $25 for adults, $23 for people 60 and older and $15 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the Creative Arts Center box office from noon to 4 p.m. weekdays or at wrightliberalarts.universitytickets.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Featuring a fast-paced and funny book by Rachel Sheinkin and music by William Finn, the \u201cSpelling Bee\u201d is an unforgettable experience, with audience members invited to participate in the bee.<\/p>\n

The musical centers on a fictional spelling bee at Putnam Valley Middle School. Six quirky adolescents compete in the bee, run by three equally quirky adults.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee\u201d opened on Broadway in 2005 and was nominated for six Tony Awards, and winning two, including Best Book.<\/p>\n

Wright State\u2019s production is directed and choreographed by Joe Deer, distinguished professor of musical theatre at Wright State, who describes the \u201cSpelling Bee\u201d as a perfect combination of humor, wit and heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery one of us can see some part of our own experience, our vulnerabilities and ambitions at that age and laugh at them because they are us,\u201d he said. \u201cI think it’s a very rare piece of theater that can do all of that with so much skill.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSpelling Bee\u201d features two full casts \u2014 the Dictionary Cast and Thesaurus Cast \u2014 allowing numerous students to perform on the Festival Playhouse stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt also puts on display the incredible individuality and versatility of our hugely talented students,\u201d Deer said. \u201cOur most devoted audience members may choose to come and see both casts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSpelling Bee\u201d will be the last show Deer directs and choreographs at Wright State as a full-time faculty member. It is a fitting final production, he said, because of its focus on exceptional young people finding their place in the world.<\/p>\n

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Wright State Theatre’s \u201cThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee\u201d features two full casts \u2014 the Dictionary Cast and Thesaurus Cast \u2014 allowing numerous students to perform on the Festival Playhouse stage.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI’ve had the pleasure of working with hundreds of students over the last 27 years at this university and many more around the world,\u201d Deer said. \u201cAs much as we like to think that there are big differences between generations and nationalities, the reality for me is that their desire to develop their craft and be able to tell the stories that matter most to them is universal and timeless.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee\u201d is music directed by F. Wade Russo, instructor of musical theatre, with costume design by Sean Hannah, a senior theatre design\/technology major; lighting design by Matthew Benjamin, professor of theatre, and Alex Markley, a theatre design\/technology student; and sound design by James Dunlap, resident sound designer.<\/p>\n

Scenic design is by guest designer Ray Zupp, who has worked in theatres across the United States and in television and film for Netflix, HBO, Peacock, ABC, Prime Video and Disney+. His designs have been seen locally at the Human Race Theatre and the Dayton Ballet. For the last two years, he has also designed immersive attractions for major theme parks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and China.<\/p>\n

Dictionary and Thesaurus Casts<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Character<\/strong><\/td>\nDictionary Cast<\/strong><\/td>\nThesaurus Cast<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rona Lisa Peretti:<\/strong><\/td>\nLindsay Bates<\/td>\nClaire Northcut<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Douglas Panch:<\/strong><\/td>\nEamon Mitchell<\/td>\nToby Hattemer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mitch\/Midge Mahoney:<\/strong><\/td>\nEvette Williamson<\/td>\nBlaise Duncan-Bevans<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Olive Ostrovsky:<\/strong><\/td>\nDevon Fruscione<\/td>\nSam Evans<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
William Barfee:<\/strong><\/td>\nAtlas Kessinger<\/td>\nJames Newton<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Leaf Coneybear:<\/strong><\/td>\nEli Peel<\/td>\nAndres Martinez<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marcy Park:<\/strong><\/td>\nJoclyn Blake<\/td>\nAmirah Musa<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chip Tollentino:<\/strong><\/td>\nDanny Dobbins<\/td>\nAidan Edwards<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere:<\/strong><\/td>\nMeghan Hohman<\/td>\nSara Ashleigh Tuohy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The Dictionary Cast will perform March 16, 22, 28 and 30 at 8 p.m. and March 17, 23 and 31 at 2 p.m.<\/p>\n

The Thesaurus Cast will perform March 15, 21, 23 and 29 at 8 p.m. and March 16, 24 and 30 at 2 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\t\t