Spelling Bee at Brisbane Arts Theatre
Put six young people in the throes of puberty along with six adults who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, all vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime, and you have the unlikeliest of hit musicals about the most improbable of heroes
Director Katherine Alpert said the cast, made up of 10 talented locals, was ready for opening night - Saturday March 21 - which will mark The 25thAnnual Putnam County Spelling Bee’s debut at the 78 year-old theatre.
“One of the best attributes about Brisbane Arts Theatre is that cast members very quickly become a family, so whether you’re a new face or a familiar face, there’s always a place for you at the Arts Theatre. Most of the cast have worked with Brisbane Arts Theatre before, but some new faces have also joined our family,” she said.
Katherine explained, “The show tells the story of six young spellers in the throes of puberty who, along with three issue-ridden adults, bring their awkward and quirky yet charming stories to The 25thAnnual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
Ms Alpert said the storyline - complete with great jokes, smart tunes and dance routines - was the perfect fit for Brisbane Arts Theatre’s intimate space.
While the show isn’t aimed at children, it is definitely a great night out for families with older children. However, the show does have a fair few unforgettable “adults only” moments.
The 25thAnnual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a tale of overachievers' angst, chronicling the experience of six adolescent outsiders 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.
“It’s a wonderful character-driven show where every second we learn more about the astounding and sometimes utterly ridiculous quirks of each character! And of course who could forget the unusual and unpredictable audience involvement! Directing this show is a great opportunity to give our audience that moment where you take their breath away – which is why I became involved in the arts in the first place,” Katherine said.
The 25thAnnual Putnam County Spelling premiered in 2005 on Broadway and was nominated for six Tony Awards, winning two including Best Book.
Ms Alpert said the show thrives on an intimate setting, where very quickly as an audience member you feel part of the story. “One of the best facets of the show is that every character has that memorable moment. There are definitely great moments that might even bring you to tears . . . some from laughter, others from raw emotion,” Ms Alpert said.
The 25thAnnual Putnam County Spelling Bee runs from Saturday, March 21 until Saturday, April 18 at Brisbane Arts Theatre located at 210 Petrie Terrace.
Bookings: www.artstheatre.com.au, call 07 3369 2344 or email bookings@artstheatre.com.au.
PRODUCTION TEAM
Director Katherine Alpert
Musical Director Samara Marinelli
Lighting Designer Lauren Sallaway
Sound & Vision Designer Sarah Allen
Costume Designer Frances Foo
Company Designer Chancie Jessop
Set Constructionist Scott Lymbery
Technical Director Ruby Tuesday
Designer Rebecca Hurst
Assistant to LX Designer Jac Dyson
Stage Manager Mikaela Sanders
Audio Engineers Nathan Smith and Bradley Hebbard
PRINCIPALS
Jessica Potts, Liv Wilson, Samantha Sherrin, Kelsie McDonald, Jessica Elise Moor, Isaac Tibbs, Alex Watson, Jarrad Lindsay, Stephen Smith and Trent Richards.
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