The Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film is bringing “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” to campus.
Presented as part of the current UNL Theatre season, the play follows six awkward, yet entertaining tweens vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. As the performance unfolds, the contestants disclose hilarious and touching stories as each one homes to be the last speller standing.
The play, which started Nov. 12, shows at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13-14 and Nov. 18-21, and at 2 p.m. Nov. 22 in the Howell Theatre on the first floor of the Temple Building. Tickets — $18 general admission, $16 faculty, staff and senior citizens, and $12 for students — are available at the door one hour prior to curtain, at the Lied Center for Performing Arts box office, by calling 402-472-4747 or online.
The setting is a high school gym. Long time hostess Rona Lisa Peretti (played by Mattison Merritt) reminisces about her own spelling bee victory while making final preparations for the 25th annual contest. Enter the contestants, last year’s champion, Boy Scout Chip Tolentino (Hunter Mruz); the very politically aware Schwarzy or Logainne Schwarzandgrubenniere (Desiree Bartels); Leaf Coneybear, the somewhat wide-eyed offspring of hippie parents (Shade Ingraham); the allergy-ridden William Barfee (Nick Prior); Marcy Park, the over-achiever (Becca Hess); and the tentative newcomer Olive Ostrovsky (Abbie Austin). Rounding out the group is vice principal Douglas Panch (Luke C Glassman) and “comfort counselor” Mitch Mahoney (Chadwick Taylor).
The competition rolls on with revelations, flashbacks and audience participation.
The production is directed and choreographed by guest Sean McKnight. Musical direction is by UNL’s Jeffrey McCray. The production staff includes design by guest Todd Clark (lighting); assistant professor J.D. Madsen (scenery); and undergraduates Katherine Davis (costumes) and Lucas Dunwoody (sound). The stage manager is undergraduate Stephanie Kahler.
