The 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

A HILARIOUS MUSICAL COMEDY

Spelling Bee

August 2 – 31, 2013 Springer Theatre

“It seems, we’re living out our dreams…”

 

 

 

Conceived by Rebecca Feldman with music and lyrics by William Finn Book by Rachel Sheinkin and additional material by Jay Reiss

  • Show Advisory: PG-13. A Tony Award-winning musical comedy full of catchy tunes, toe-tapping dance numbers and free-wheeling improvisation, this story follows six overachievers in the throes of puberty, as they compete in their local county’s spelling competition. The charming and quirky group of outsiders learn that winning isn’t everything, and that losing doesn’t make you a loser. For this motley crew, the Spelling Bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time.

    “Riotously funny and remarkably ingenious.” – The New York Times

     

     
    “A super smart show that is also a bona fide crowd-pleaser.” – The Wall Street Journal

     

     
    “SPELLING BEE is a winning experience for everyone.” – USA Today

     

     
    “Funniest thing in seven consonants!” – Washington Post

  • Springer Theatre Logo

    Playing at the Springer Theatre from August 2 to 31, 2013

    Evening Performances: Tuesday through Saturday 8:00PM Matinees: Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday 2:30PM Running Time:
 2 hours with intermission

  • Cast

    Rona Lisa Peretti: Kristin Galer Olive Ostrovsky: Piper Goodeve Leaf Coneybear: Andrew Kushnir William Barfée: Benjamin Kyte Mitch Mahoney: Michael-Lamont Lytle Logainne SchwartzandGrubenierre: Alison MacDonald Chip Tolentino: Eric Morin Marcy Park: Nicole Norsworthy Vice Principal Douglas Panch: Michael Spencer-Davis

    Creative Team

    Direction: Ashlie Corcoran Music Direction: James Smith Choreographer: Shelley Stewart Hunt Set Design: Lindsay Anne Black Costume Design: Robin Fisher Lighting Design: Michelle Ramsay Sound Design: Michael Laird Stage Management: Kate Porter Assistant Stage Manager: Monika Seiler Assistant Director: Nathaniel Bryan Kristin GalerKRISTIN GALER (Rona Lisa Peretti) For the Playhouse: Suds, Little Shop of Horrors, Nunsense 2, Blood Brothers. Elsewhere: The Lord of the Rings (Mirvish); Joseph (Silvermist); Nunsense (Stage West Calgary/Mississauga); I Love You… Now Change, Oklahoma!, The Odd Couple (Drayton); Leo, The Royal Cadet (Toronto Operetta Theatre). Upcoming: Jacques Brel in September with fellow TIP-ers. Other: Visit Kristin at www.kristingaler.com for show info, and check out her personal training business at www.kaygtraining.com. Thank you to everyone at TIP, and my very best friend Kevin – I love you more than anything. Piper GoodevePIPER GOODEVE (Olive Ostrovsky) For the Playhouse: The Marvelous Wonderettes. Elsewhere: The Long Trip (American Globe); Hamlet (Tennessee Shakespeare Co.); Caroline Or Change (Syracuse Stage); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Marvelous Wonderettes (Weston Playhouse); Hair (Hangar Theater); The Fantasticks (Merrimack Rep); Blue Roses (York Theatre Co.); A Christmas Carol  (McCarter); Anne of Green Gables (Lucille Lortel, Off-Broadway, Original Cast Recording). Other: Drama League Award nomination for Distinguished Performance (Anne of Green Gables), audiobook narrator for Audible. MFA from Brown University/Trinity Rep. A big thank you to Ashlie, Stewart Talent, my family, and Gabe. www.pipergoodeve.com   Andrew KushnirANDREW KUSHNIR (Leaf Coneybear) For the Playhouse: Debut.  Elsewhere: Passion Play (Outside The March/Convergence/Sheep No Wool); The Middle Place (Project: Humanity, Canadian Stage, Theatre Passe Muraille, national tour); Beyond Eden (Theatre Calgary, Vancouver Playhouse); Frankenstein (Catalyst Theatre, 3 national tours); The Last Five Years (Theatre&Co.); Hair (Canadian Stage); Floyd Collins (Shaw Festival); King Lear (Colorado Shakespeare Festival).  Upcoming:  The Gay Heritage Project (Buddies In Bad Times Theatre/GHP Collective) directed by TIP’s Ashlie Corcoran. Other: Andrew is the creative director of Project: Humanity Inc. (www.projecthumanity.ca) as well as a playwright-in-residence at Tarragon Theatre. He is a graduate of the University of Alberta’s BFA Acting program. Benjamin KyteBENJAMIN KYTE (William Barfée) For the Playhouse: Debut. Elsewhere: Robin Hood: The Legendary Musical Comedy (Hart House Theatre); The Rocky Horror Show, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Fallen Rock Prod.); Urinetown (South Simcoe Theatre). Other: Ben is very happy and humbled to be making his Thousand Islands debut in ‘the Bee’! Thank you to Ashlie and James for this opportunity! Thank you also to Jason and Kelly for their friendship and support, thank you to Renee for helping me find my voice, and the confidence to share it. Thank you to my family, for always being there for me, even when I was sharing my voice too much. Love to you all. And lastly, thank you to our audience! Without you, we’re just playing pretend in a room with too many chairs. Thank you for your support and please E-N-J-O-Y! Michael-Lamont LytleMICHAEL-LAMONT LYTLE (Mitch Mahoney) For The Playhouse: Debut. Elsewhere: The Full Monty (Rose Theatre); ...Spelling Bee (Western Canada Theatre); The Full Monty (Sudbury Theatre Centre); Dreamgirls (The Grand Theatre); War and Peace (Canadian Opera Company); Seussical (L.K.T.Y.P.); Chicago (Les Productions Juste Pour Rire); Jesus Christ Superstar (Theatre Aquarius); The Lion King / Beauty and The Beast (Mirvish Productions); Celine Dion; Cirque Du Soleil. Upcoming: Ain’t Misbehavin (Segal Centre); Elf the Musical (The Grand Theatre).  Other: Michael-Lamont dedicates this and every performance to his mother Barbara Jean Lytle and the love of his life D’Arcy McLenaghen. Alison MacDonaldALISON MACDONALD (Logainne SchwartzandGrubenierre) For the Playhouse:  Suds, The Marvelous Wonderettes. Elsewhere:  The Winter Wonderettes (Theatre Kingston); The Penelopiad (The Citadel); The Sound Of Music (Gateway Theatre); Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (Chemainus Theatre Festival); Ordinary Days (Relephant Theatre); Seussical (Carousel); Back To You (Musical Theatreworks/PTE); Company (Arts Club); The World Goes ‘Round, Songs For A New World (AMC). Upcoming: It’s a Wonderful Life (Chemainus Theatre Festival) Other:  She is a graduate of The Canadian College of Performing Arts and a participant of The Citadel/Banff Professional Theatre Program. This fall, she will be working with some of her fellow spellers as they produce and perform in Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.  For more info please visit www.alisonmacdonald.ca Eric MorinERIC MORIN (Chip Tolentino) For the Playhouse: Debut.  Elsewhere: Falsettos (Acting Up Stage); A Christmas Carol, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Three Musketeers (Citadel Theatre); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Canadian Stage); The Wizard of Oz (Ross Petty Prod.); Next to Normal (The Arts Club); The Altar Boyz (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia).  Other: Eric is a graduate of the distinguished Ryerson Theatre School Program and attended the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He was also a participant of the 2011 and 2012 Banff/Citadel Professional Theatre Training Program. Eric has been nominated for an Ovation Award for his work in Next to Normal. Many thanks to his family, friends, and Adrian for their undying love, support and passion. www.putMORINtoit.com Nicole NorsworthyNICOLE NORSWORTHY (Marcy Park) For the Playhouse: Debut. Elsewhere: Fiddler on the Roof (Stage West Mississauga); unEarth (Helix Dance Project); Bomb Girls (Global TV); Frenemies (Disney Channel). Upcoming: Annie (YPT). Other: Nicole is a graduate of The Randolph Centre for the Arts and recipient of the Triple Threat award. Outside of performing, Nicole is an active dance teacher and choreographer. Special thanks to her always supportive friends, family and Alex. Michael Spencer-DavisMICHAEL SPENCER-DAVIS (Vice Principal Douglas Panch) For the Playhouse: Debut. Elsewhere: Twelfth Night, The Tempest (Hartford Stage); Innocence Lost (Centaur/National Arts Centre); Pride and Prejudice (Theatre Calgary/NAC); Having Hope at Home, The Lonely Diner: Al Capone in Euphemia Township (Blyth Festival); Richard III, Titus Andronicus, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Bartholomew Fair,  Shakespeare’s Universe (Stratford Festival); Romeo and Juliet, Nativity, Twelfth Night, Macbeth (National Arts Centre); The Pitmen Painters (Theatre Aquarius); Robin Hood, Sexy Laundry (Globe Theatre); The Real Thing, Humble Boy (Manitoba Theatre Centre); Lawrence and Holloman, apple (Prairie Theatre Exchange); As You Like It, Einstein’s Gift, Blithe Spirit (The Citadel); The Elephant Man, Amadeus, Heaven (Canadian Stage). Ashlie CorcoranASHLIE CORCORAN (Director) For the Playhouse: Artistic Director since November 1, 2012.  Director for Third Floor. Elsewhere:  As Director: The Magic Flute (Opera Philadelphia); Don Giovanni, Le Lauréat, Three Sisters Who are Not Sisters (The Glenn Gould School, RCM); The Brothers Grimm, Isis and The Seven Scorpions, Cinderella, The Bear (Canadian Opera Company); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Western Canada Theatre).  As Artistic Producer and Director: Tiny Dynamite, Tijuana Cure, A Boy Called Newfoundland, The Ugly One (Theatre Smash).  Upcoming: Salt-Water Moon (TIP); The Gay Heritage Project (Buddies in Bad Times); The Ugly One (Theatre Smash/Tarragon Theatre); Waiting for the Parade (Western Canada Theatre). James SmithJAMES SMITH (Music Director) For the Playhouse:  Debut Elsewhere:  As Composer/Sound Designer: Faith Healer (Shaw Festival); The Ends Of The Earth (Vertigo Theatre). As Assistant Sound Designer: Guys and Dolls, Ragtime (Shaw Festival). As Musical Director Intern: My Fair Lady, Maria Severa (Shaw Festival). As Substitute Conductor: The Admirable Crichton (Shaw Festival). As Associate Composer/Musical Arranger: On The Rocks (Shaw Festival). As Associate Musical Director/Band Leader: Assassins (Manitoba Theatre Centre, Talk is Free Theatre/Birdland Theatre). As Musical Director: Diamond Tooth Gerties (Dawson City, Yukon); Guys and Dolls, Great Expectations (TIFT); Living With Henry (Next Stage Festival); Canada In Love (Smile Theatre); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Fallen Rock).  Other:  James is a graduate of Queen’s University’s Bachelor of Music program where he specialized in piano and composition. This one goes out to his brother Josh, the bravest little speller he knows. Shelley Stewart-HuntSHELLEY STEWART HUNT (Choreographer) For the Playhouse: Debut.  Elsewhere: How To Succeed In Business … (Theatre Under The Stars); Spring Awakening, (Studio 58); … Spelling Bee, (Western Canada Theatre Company); I Love You Because (Intimate Theatre Prod.); Winter Sport (West Vancouver’s official Olympic celebration site multi-media show). Motion Capture Choreography for: Barbie: The Princess & The Pauper (Mattel). Other: Based in Vancouver, Shelley is a faculty member in Capilano University’s Musical Theatre Diploma program. Selected performance credits include Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies (Hero Tapper); The Full Monty (Patrick Street Productions); Evita, My Fair Lady (Arts Club/Stanley Theatre); CATS National Tour (Rumpelteazer); ABC-TV’s Bye Bye Birdie (Alice). Lindsay Ann BlackLINDSAY ANN BLACK (Set Designer) For the Playhouse: Debut. Elsewhere: Night Of The Living Dead Live (Nictophobia Films); Chile Con Carne (Alameda Theatre); In This World (Roseneath Theatre); The De Chardin Project (Quickening Theatre); This Lime Tree Bower (Cart/Horse Theatre); This Must Be The Place: The CN Tower Project (Theatre Passe Muraille); HOMEbody (Shannon Litzenberger Dance). Upcoming: Dinner at 7:30 (Theatre Rusticle). Other: Lindsay has been nominated for five Dora Awards, and received the 2007 Pauline McGibbon Award. If she ever pays her 14-year-old library fines, she will be a graduate of Queen’s University. Robin FisherROBIN FISHER (Costume Designer) For the Playhouse: Some of Robin’s TIP credits include: The Clockmaker, Lend Me A Tenor, Billy Bishop Goes to War. Elsewhere: Cinderella (Young People’s Theatre); Fiddler on the Roof (Western Canada Theatre); Hand of Bridge/Telephone (Canadian Opera  Company); The Syringa Tree (Great Canadian Theatre Co); The Little Prince (The Grand Theatre); The Tempest (Canadian Stage Company); I, Claudia (Theatre & Co./Segal Centre); The Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon (Globe Theatre).  Upcoming:  Set and costumes for Acting Up Stage’s western tour of Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata. Other: Robin received a Dora Mavor Moore award for best costume design for 36 Views (Actors Repertory Company). Michelle RamsayMICHELLE RAMSAY (Lighting Designer) For the Playhouse: Poochwater, Blood Brothers, Up the River, Night. Elsewhere: Half Life Motel (Blue Ceiling Dance); Ching Chong Chinaman (fu-GEN); The Lesson (Modern Times); carried away on the crest of a wave (Tarragon Theatre); Night of the Living Dead Live (Nictophobia Films); Sister Mary’s a Dyke?! (Cahoots Theatre Projects); Obaaberima (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre); Helen’s Necklace (Shaw Festival). Upcoming: Arcadia (Shaw Festival). Other: She has received four Dora Awards and the 2008 Pauline McGibbon award. Michael LairdMICHAEL LAIRD (Sound Designer) For the Playhouse: Debut. Elsewhere: Spamalot!, Sound of Music, Little Women (Citadel Theatre); Great Expectations, Barber of Seville (Soulpepper); Legally Blonde (Neptune Theatre); Clybourne Park, Stuff Happens (Studio 180/Mirvish Productions); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Canadian Stage); Hair (The Grand Theatre); Our Class, The Overwhelming, Blackbird (Studio 180); Seussical (YPT/Citadel Theatre); Cinderella, A Year with Frog and Toad, The Princess and the Handmaiden, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Wizard of Oz (YPT); Speaking in Tongues, Through the Leaves, Festen, Marion Bridge (Company Theatre); Evil Dead: The Musical (Off Broadway, Toronto & Montréal); A Beautiful View (da da kamera). Kate PorterKATE PORTER (Stage Manager) For the Playhouse: The Drowsy Chaperone, Les Misérables, The Red Priest, Anne & Gilbert.  Elsewhere: Don Giovanni (The Glenn Gould School); The Amorous Adventures of Anatol (Tarragon Theatre); The Secret Garden (The Banff Centre for the Arts); Noises Off (Western Canada Theatre); Ubuntu (The Cape Town Project, Theatrefront/WCT); Tuesdays at Tesco’s (Edinburgh Festival Fringe); Tout Comme Elle (Necessary Angel/Luminato Festival); La Clemenza di Tito, Acis & Galatea (Opera Atelier). Upcoming: Tribes (Theatrefront/Canadian Stage), Thérèse/La Navarraise (Wexford Festival Opera). MonikaMONIKA SEILER (Assistant Stage Manager) For the Playhouse: Suds, The Clockmaker, Billy Bishop Goes to War, The Mollycoddlers, Forever Plaid, Russian Play & Essay. Elsewhere:  Race (Canadian Stage); The Winter Wonderettes (Theatre Kingston); The War of the Worlds (Art of Time); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Citadel); Beckett: Feck It! (Queen of Puddings/Canadian Stage); Topdog/Underdog (Obsidian/Shaw Festival); Jake and the Kid (Globe); Ruined (Obsidian/Nightwood); What the Butler Saw, A Christmas Carol (Soulpepper); The Marriage of Figaro, Idomeneo (Opera Atelier); Eugene Onegin (Opera Lyra); Strong Poison, Pride & Prejudice, Rope’s End (Manitoba Theatre Centre). Upcoming:  Monika will be working at the George Brown Theatre School for its 2013/2014 Season. Other: Monika is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada. Nathaniel BryanNATHANIEL BRYAN (Assistant Director) For the Playhouse: Debut.  Elsewhere: Bloom (Steam Powered Theatre); How Coyote (One Foot Wet Theatre); Bard’s Beauties (Infringement Collective); Cooling, or Breath of a Salesman (Alumnae Theatre); the authorial collective (TNC Theatre); The Dictatorship of Debt (SJC); Macbeth (Players Theatre); Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (TNC Theatre).  Upcoming: Contractions (Contractions collective); Bloom (Steam Powered Theatre).

  • Photo

    Official show photography by Mark Bergin. Click each thumbnail for a larger image. Putnam(12) sm   Putnam(14) sm  Putnam(17) sm Putnam(17) sm   Putnam(21) sm   Putnam(22) sm For more photos, please visit our Facebook page. Kristin Galer as Rona Lisa Peretti, Piper Goodeve as Olive Ostrovsky, Andrew Kushnir as Leaf Coneybear, Benjamin Kyte as William Barfée, Michael-Lamont Lytle as Mitch Mahoney, Alison MacDonald as Logainne SchwartzandGrubenierre, Eric Morin as Chip Tolentino, Nicole Norsworthy as Marcy Park, Michael Spencer-Davis as Vice Principal Douglas Panch.

    Video

    “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” TV Commercial- CKWS TV

    Ashlie’s Inside Story

  • Reviews

    Putnam County Spelling Bee a must see! -Hendrik Pape, Ottawa Citizen 5 out of 5 stars Theatre Review: “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” -Connie Meng, North Country Public Radio 4 out of 5 stars Playhouse production spells success -Greg Burliuk, Kingston Whig Standard 5 out of 5 stars TIP’s Spelling Bee is H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S! -Alicia Jessup, Blogger The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee a Winner for TI Playhouse -Lorraine Payette, Freelance Blogger

    Videos

    EON previews The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee -Eastern Ontario Network CTV Morning Live Ottawa interviews Artistic Director Ashlie Corcoran -CTV Morning Live

    Preview Articles

    Audience Participation will be Part of Playhouse’s Latest Production -St. Lawrence EMC Upbeat and toe tapping musical is pure comic gold! -St. Lawrence EMC TI Playhouse’s 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Is B-I-G F-U-N -Lorraine Payette, Freelance Writer

  • Summer Fun Media Sponsor Founding Sponsor