Central Piedmont Theatre announces auditions for its upcoming production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
Conceived by Rebecca Feldman. Book by Rachel Sheinkin. Music & Lyrics by William Finn. Director & Choreographer: Ron Chisholm
AUDITION INFORMATION
All auditionees should prepare sixteen bars of an up-tempo song. There will also be cold readings from the script. Please come dressed for a movement audition.
AUDITION DATE & TIME
- August 16 & 18 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Overcash 300 on Central Piedmont’s Central Campus.
- August 18 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Georgia Tucker Fine Arts Hall on Central Piedmont’s Levine Campus.
PERFORMANCE DATES & TIMES
- September 23-24, 29-30 and October 1 at 7:30 p.m.
- September 25 and October 2 at 2:30 p.m.
PLAY SYNOPSIS
Six young people in the throes of puberty vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. Overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, they learn that winning isn’t everything and that losing doesn’t necessarily make you a loser. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves! At least those who are eliminated get a juice box.
ROLES AVAILABLE
Charlie “Chip” Tolentino: An athletic, social, boy scout and champion of the Twenty-Fourth Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, he returns to defend his title, but he finds puberty hitting at an inopportune moment.
Logainne SchwartzandGrubenierre (Schwartzy): Logainne is the youngest and most politically aware speller. She is driven by internal and external pressure, but above all by a desire to win to make her two fathers proud.
Leaf Coneybear: The second runner-up in his district, Leaf gets into the competition on a lark and finds everything about the bee incredibly amusing. He is home-schooled and comes from a large family of former hippies.
William Barfee: A Putnam County Spelling Bee finalist last year, he was eliminated because of an allergic reaction to peanuts and is back for vindication. His famous “Magic Foot” method has boosted him to spelling glory.
Marcy Park: A recent transfer from Virginia, Marcy placed ninth in last year’s nationals. She is the epitome of being an overachiever and attends a Catholic school. She is also not allowed to cry.
Olive Ostrovsky: A young newcomer to competitive spelling. She became best friends with her dictionary at a very young age, helping her to make it to the competition. She starts enormously shy, and slowly blossoms.
Rona Lisa Peretti: The number-one realtor in Putnam County, a former Putnam County Spelling Bee Champion herself, and the returning moderator. Her interest in the competition is unflagging and drives it forward.
Douglas Panch: The Vice Principal. He is infatuated with Rona Lisa Peretti, but she does not return his affections.
Mitch Mahoney: The Official Comfort Counselor. An ex-convict, he is doing his community service by handing out juice boxes to losing students.
Carl Dad: Schwartzy’s main trainer, the more intense and competitive of Schwartzy’s fathers.
Dan Dad: The more laid back and ineffectual of Schwartzy’s fathers.
Jesus Christ: Deity invoked by a speller in need.
Leaf’s Mom, Dad, and And Siblings: All more academically gifted than Leaf, they are more than surprised by his success.
Olive’s Dad: A fantasy version of Olive’s dad coming to the bee from work.
Olive’s Mom: A fantasy version of Olive’s mom at her Ashram in India.
A group of strangers meets in a dirty subway station, all claiming to be in different cities. They soon learn the unfortunate truth: They are all dead. Since subway stations have opposite platforms, they reason that one train must be bound for Heaven; the other bound for Hell. But which platform are they on? They reflect upon their lives, sharing their virtues and vices, hoping to figure out which platform is which. As the subway train finally approaches, they must make a choice. Do they stay and ponder their actions further? Or do they board the train to their final destination?
Auditions for Central Piedmont Community College’s fall production, Freaky Friday (Nov. 10-19), will