Foothill Music Theatre/Foothill College Theatre Arts Presents
"25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"
By Finn and Sheinkin
Directed by Jay Manley, Music Direction by Mark Hanson
Sat., Oct. 17, 10am-2pm, in Rm. 1401 - adjacent to Smithwick Theatre (Park student lot 1) OR Sun., Oct. 18, 6:30-9:30pm, in the Lohman Theatre (Park student lot 8).
Callbacks Oct. 24-27, by appointment.
All roles open, including small ensemble, U/S opportunities. Non-AEA. Not for pay. No appointment necessary. Prepare stylistically appropriate up-tempo or ballad B'way song; sheet music in correct key; accompanist provided.
About "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"
Six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser.
"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" is a hilarious tale of overachievers' angst, chronicling the experience of six adolescent misfits fiercely vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. The show's
Tony Award winning creative team has created the unlikeliest of hit musicals about the unlikeliest of heroes: a quirky yet charming cast of outsiders for whom a spelling bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time. Their passion is words, and they find empowerment and identity through the spelling bees.
Important Information About Casting: All of the "kids" are played by adult actors. Finn's music is challenging and requires trained musical theatre singers. We will be looking for actors who, with their acting, can represent youthful personas. This is the process that was used in the original Broadway production.
Women's Roles:
Rona – Hostess of the Spelling Bee, 30's-50's, soprano;
Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, better know as "Schwartzy" – the youngest and most politically aware of the contestants, soprano;
Marcy Park – an over-achieving Asian-American, Mezzo;
Olive – a tentative newcomer to spelling bees, soprano;
Olive's Mom, Leaf's Mom.
Men's Roles:
Chip Tolentino – a Boy Scout and last year's champion, tenor;
Leaf Coneybear – wise-eyed offspring of hippie parents, baritone;
William Barfee – an allergy-plagued student, who spells with his "magic foot", tenor;
Vice Principal Douglas Panch, 30's-50's;
Mitch Mahoney – the "Comfort Counselor" to the losers, tenor; Schwartzy's overbearing gay dads:
Dan Schwartz and Carl Grubenierre; Olive's Dad.
Rehearsals begin Jan. 4; performs Feb. 19-March 7, Lohman Theatre.
Location:
Lohman Theatre, Foothill College, at the bottom of the hill!
12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Highway 280 at El Monte Road
For easy directions:
http://www.mapquest.com/
Parking: Parking Lot 8 provides direct and easy access to the theatre. Visitors must purchase the required parking permit for $2. Foothill College is located off I-280 on El Monte Road in Los Altos Hills.
For further details, please email:
manleyjay@foothill.edu
