How to go
What: “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”
When: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 21, 22 and 23, at 8 nightly. Additionally, there will be a matinee performance at 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 23.
Where: Middletown Lyric Theatre, 1530 Central Ave., Middletown
Admission: $15 (plus applicable ticket service fees). Tickets are on sale online at www.middletownlyric.org or by calling (513) 425-7140. Advance purchase recommended.
More info: www.middletownlyric.org or call (513) 425-7140
Director’s note: The show is a PG-13 production, some mild language.
Local audiences will find out that winning isn’t everything as six spellers take the stage for the “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
The Middletown Lyric Theatre’s Advanced Summer Youth Theatre Program will present the musical comedy on Thursday through Saturday, July 21-23. Four performances are scheduled, including a 3 p.m. matinee on Saturday.
Charley Shafor, the show’s director and managing artistic director of MLT said about 15 youth are involved in this year’s production, including a dozen actors and a handful of participants that will help with sets, props and production.
“The program is for those that want to have another level of experience outside of high school or middle school with other like-minded students, so the audition process is a little more rigorous and the rehearsal periods are a little longer. We work on their vocal technique, acting and characterization. It goes beyond putting on a show, and it really teaches them the craft of theater,” Shafor said.
Sponsored by the Middletown Community Foundation this season, the program is geared toward students ages 14 to 20 who are interested in advanced musical theater, Shafor said.
The audition process attracts those that are more serious about musical theater. There are no fees for students to participate. About 25 to 30 students auditioned for the show.
The cast stars Ivy Moody as Logainne Schwartzandgrunenierre; Ashley Shamp (Marcy Park); Kenzie Hall (Olive Ostrovsky); Seth Allen (Chip Tolentino/Jesus); Paul Dunn (Leaf Coneybear); Jacob Lovelace (William Barfee); Elyssa Carmony (Rona Lisa Peretti/Olive’s Mom); Emma Janson (Madge Mahoney) and Jacob Watkins (Douglass Panch).
Shafor said the one-act show centers on small-town America as the cast comes together for the annual spelling bee
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