Entr’Acte Theatrix will present The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the PGA Arts Center in Palm Beach Gardens from June 22 – July 2. Nominated for six Tony Awards, and winning 2, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee features an eclectic group of sixth graders (played by adult actors in uproariously comical caricatures), who arrive at a fictional spelling bee set in the geographically ambiguous Putnam Valley Middle School to vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime; the Bee is run by three equally quirky grown-ups. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter – one speller leaves! At least the losers get a juice box!
“We are happy to be aligning ourselves with the PGA Arts Center, and veteran producers Dana Matthow and Philip Roy, helping to grow their new venue and their audience base to become a popular destination for theatre in mid and north Palm Beach County,” says Entr’Acte Theatrix founder and Executive Producer Vicki Halmos. “Entr’Acte has an excellent reputation as a launching pad for emerging talent in the County; several of our alumni are Carbonell Award-winners, and a number of others have gone on to receive their Equity cards, and to work on and off Broadway and in national touring companies. With Spelling Bee Entr’Acte will bring a more traditional theatrical choice to the Center’s audiences – it’s a ‘tongue in cheek’ parody – and a rollicking, funny, and heart-warming musical that will appeal to theatre patrons of all ages and stages; it will put adults in touch with their inner child, and will bring back memories of their own youth. And the audience participation aspect of the show will add another layer of enjoyment for our audiences – who knows – they might be asked to come on stage and spell s-y-z-y-g-y.*”
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will be directed by Entr’Acte alumnus Carlo-Rufino Sabusap. Sabusap has been with the company for10 years, and recently directed their production of Peter and the Star Catcher. “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is one of my all-time favorite shows,” Sabusap says. “It’s got a small cast, but a big heart, and tells so much about the experience of growing up, and the different types of relationships kids have with their parents. Our production will hold on to the classic moments and themes of the show, while introducing some new things here and there that I haven’t seen in other productions. Our amazing cast is sure to deliver a fun, hilarious, but touching experience for our audiences.”
Spelling Bee’s cast consists of Robyn Eli Brenner as William Barfee, Mary Grace Tesoriero as Olive Ostrovsky, Greg Halmos as Leaf Coneybear, Rosseroni Parris as Chip Tolentino, Rachel Ihasz as Marcy Park, Amanda Ruggiero as Logan Schwartzandgrubenierre, Lissen Ellington as Rona Lisa Peretti, David W. Lamphier as Douglas Panch, James White III as Mitch Mahoney, Megan Cires as Olive’s Mom and Others, and Patrick Kolta as Carl-Dad and Others. The production’s Musical Director is Anneliesa Tretheway, and the show’s Stage Manager is Sean Smyth.
Tickets for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee are on sale now and can be purchased on line at www.entractetheatrix.org, or www.pgaartscenter.com or by phone at: 855-448-7469. Tickets are $38; student tickets are $15. Performances will be held at the PGA Arts Center located at 4076 PGA Blvd. in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. For more information about Entr’Acte Theatrix or The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, visitwww.entractetheatrix.org or contact Carol Kassie at carol@carolkassie.com / 561-445-9244.
