The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee: a hilarious play of middle schoolers battling for first place at a (you guessed it) spelling bee. Each speller is unique and special.         

 

“This diverse group of characters come together to represent the social and within-the-family problems that affects kids in their age group,” said Noah Hall, who plays Barfee in the play. “With all of the personalities within, this show is the most hilarious one I’ve ever been a part of.”

 

There is Leaf Coneybear, a socially-awkward homeschooler who makes his own clothing and wears a helmet due to his constant clumsiness. Expressing his self-perceived superiority with every step, William Barfee is a difficult contestant to compete with. He has a “magic foot” which he uses to spell out every word. Chip Tolentino walks onto stage with a swagger, having won last years’ bee. Little did he know that the spelling of words would not be the hardest part of this bee; for Chip, puberty had arrived. With such a mouthful of a name, it’s no surprise Logainne "Schwarzy" SchwartzandGrubenierre has a speech impediment. The expectations of success from her two dads have her tenser than a coiled viper.

 

These are only a handful of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’s cast. The quirky personalities of each one are what make this play “Broadway” quality. Without them, this show would be like a, well, spelling bee. Unfortunately, Bridgeport High School almost went without them. A lack of student attendance nearly jeopardized this play’s production.

 

Despite over 30 seniors signing up,19 showed up for tryouts. Only four of them were boys. With so low attendance, how could Bridgeport have a senior show?

 

Producer of the Spelling Bee, Mrs. Rowe said, “We didn’t have a senior show. We were forced to cast the roles from other grades.”

 

High schoolers from all grade levels are participating in the “Bee.” In Bridgeport’s entire theater history, never before has there not been a senior show. Usually, a formula is followed: a senior production in the fall, an all-school production in the spring. Yet, while “first times” can be scary, they don’t have to be a negative thing. Whether a freshman or a senior, the actors in the show have the enthusiasm and acting abilities to pull off something grand.

 

 “The cast is an excellent cast. Everybody in the roles are right for them,” said Mr. Jared St. Martin Brown, a technical advisor for the production. “These characters are easy to identify with because we all have a little of each one in us. There’s a person who feels a little too smart, there’s a person who feels a little too dumb, there’s a person who’s just struggling to get through the day… I think each of the actors we casted are going to be able to bring out the best of each one of the characters.”

 

Who will be playing these eccentric characters? In this production, the audience will see the faces of Rebekah James, Mackenzie Steele, Jordan Rae, Jenna Keefover, Noah Hall, Kamden Dulaney, Douglas Soule, Derek Hess, Nate Madden, Jackson Smart, Caroline Fulks, Bailey King, Noah Hall, Brianna Oldaker, Vincent Pinti, Niki Dewitt, Ella Flowers, and Demi DiPiazza. All characters are receiving guidance from Director Gregg Brown, who put together the recent productions of The Addam’s Family and Once Upon a Mattress.

The public performances of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee are November 4th-6th. This autumn, be prepared to fall into a play that will have you bursting with laughter. One-and-a-half hours of hilarity will be a great ab workout!