Quick, can you spell hilarious, or ensemble or cabaret? Tryon Little Theater is opening its 66th season with the Tony Award winning musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on Sept. 11, at TLT’s Workshop Theater on S. Trade St. in Tryon.
“It’s definitely a unique musical comedy,” Music Director Pam McNeal said. “The humor (writing) is in the classic SNL (Saturday Night Live) style, just edgy enough to be politically incorrect and not intended for those under 16. It’s also an ensemble cast, and because it’s a one act mini musical it can easily fall into the category of a cabaret act.”
“I’ve been blessed with a most talented ensemble,” Director Donna Orzano said. “The creative writing will bring out the laughter as the audience is introduced to the eight characters involved with the bee and their various personalities, human frailties, idiosyncrasies, character flaws and quirks. Everyone in the audience will be able to identify with at least one of the characters on stage.”
Paul Adams plays Mitch Mahoney, the “comfort counselor.” When a speller misses a word, Mitch takes them off and gives them a juice box and some ‘comfort’. He’s in this position only because he’s performing his community service as ordered by the Putnam County Court.
John Calure, plays Vice Principal Douglas Panch, a frustrated bureaucrat in education administration, the drive of these young spellers is alien to him. He was the word pronouncer at the ‘bee’ five years ago but there was an “incident” and hasn’t been asked back until now.
Ben Chumley plays Leaf Coneybear the home schooled youngster who makes his own cloths and gives you the idea that he may have ADD, but deep in his subconscious is a ‘dictionary’ and when he goes into a trance he’s a spelling machine
Alissa Fiorillo plays Olive Ostrovsky, the shy only child who lives a quiet life. Her parents are often too involved with their own lives and thus Olive spends her time with her friend the dictionary!
Alex Harrelson plays Chip Tolentino, the reigning spelling champion from Putnam County. He’s easy going, social, athletic. But watch out! Here comes that flood of hormones called puberty!
Petra Harrelson plays Logaine Schwartzandgrubennier, is driven by real and imagined pressures, not the least of which is the fact that she’s being raised by a same gender couple, her two dads, Carl Schwartz and Dan Grubennier, thus her last name!
Karen McDowell plays Rona Liza Perretti, a former spelling bee champ herself, she is also the top realtor in Putnam County. For nine consecutive years she has produced the ‘bee’ so this is her day to be queen! She keeps the audience informed with little bits of info about each speller, much like a TV golf commentator.
Josh Moffit plays William Barfee, a loud and combative chubby kid who grows into a bully to avoid being picked on. The journey the ‘bee’ takes him on allows him to see beyond his own selfish needs and for the first time begins to care about someone else!
Hollie Swofford plays Marcy Park, the ultimate over achiever. She’s a transfer student, her parents move often. Marcy has never been given another option other than to be excellent in whatever the endeavor. Can you spell parochial school?
Tickets go on sale Thursday, Sept. 4, at the TLT’s Workshop Theater at 516 S. Trade St. in Tryon. Performances are at 8pm on Sept. 11 – 13 and 18 – 20 and matinees at 3 p.m. on Sept. 14 and 21. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was conceived by Rebecca Feldman, from the book by Rachel Sheinkin, with music and lyrics by William Finn.

– article submitted
by John Calure