‘Spelling Bee’ takes stage at Pottsgrove High School.
Winner of the Tony and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” has charmed audiences across the country with its effortless wit and humor. Featuring a fastpaced, wildly funny and touching book by Rachel Sheinkin and a truly fresh and vibrant score by William Finn, this bee is one unforgettable experience.
It hit the stage Thursday, March 30, and Pottsgrove High School students will continue performances at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 31 and April 1, at the Pottsgrove High School, 1345 Kauffman Road.
An eclectic group of mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. 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. At least the losers get a juice box.
The cast features Emma Burrus as Olive Ostrovsky, Audra Estel as Schwarzy, Cierra Fekelman as Marcy Park (co-dance captain), Trystian Hernandez as Douglas Panch, Joe Kelley as Chip Tolentino, Tyler Montgomery as Leaf Coneybear (co-dance captain), Kathleen Moser as Rona Lisa Peretti (student co-director), Jessica Samilenko as Mich Mahoney and Michael Thornton as William Barfee.
The Ensemble includes Bryce Clemmer, Hailey Ellwanger, Summer Grier, Victoria Grier, Sarah Ounsworth, Michaela Sloan (student co-director), Mackenzie Vanhorn and Hannah Weghorst.
The play is directed, produced and choreographed by Andrea Forrest; vocal director is Kelsey Hendler; assistant director/stage manager is Anna Tayler; and Pit Orchestra director is William Einhorn.