Musical comedy to be performed at local high schools, Mabee Theatre

PHOTO CAPTION: From left, Krista Barth, Cody McClain, Kaitlyn Conaway, Alex Siron, Kar’Mel Brewer and Brianna Holder perform during a dress rehearsal of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” in the Mabee Little Theatre in the Robert W. Brown Performance Arts Center.

CANTON, Mo. — An eclectic group of six pre-teens vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime as the Culver-Stockton College theatre department will be presenting “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” at four regional high schools in March and in the Mabee Little Theatre in the Robert W. Brown Performance Arts Center on the C-SC campus in April.

While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the six students spell their way through a series of words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life-un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter, and one speller leaves a champion. (At least the losers get a juice box.)

A riotous ride, complete with audience participation and a small cast and unit set, makes this show a perfect option for high school tours. Shows will be performed at:

• Highland High School in Ewing, Mo., on Thursday, March 5.
• Knox County High School in Edina, Mo., on Thursday, March 19.
• Burlington High School in Burlington, Iowa, on Wednesday, March 25.
• Mexico High School in Mexico, Mo., on Thursday, March 26.

The show will return to campus for four shows in the Mabee Little Theatre. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on April 2-4, with a 3 p.m. matinee scheduled for April 5. Admission to those performances is $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.

The cast consists of:

• Alex Siron, a senior music education major from Paris, Mo. He plays the part of Chip Tolentino, a Boy Scout and the defending champion of the spelling bee.
• Kaitlyn Conaway, a senior English education and theatre major from Steelville, Mo. She plays the part of Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere, the youngest and most politically aware speller.
• Kar’Mel Brewer, a senior music education major from St. Louis. He plays the part of Leaf Conybear, who is homeschooled, makes his own clothes and spells words correctly while in a trance.
• Cody McClain, a senior psychology major from Hamilton, Ill. He plays the part of William Barfee, who uses his “magic foot” method to boost him to spelling glory.
• Krista Barth, a senior English education major from Bloomington, Ill. She plays the part of Marcy Park, who speaks six languages, excels in hockey and rugby and sleeps three hours a night.
• Talia Schneider, a sophomore musical theatre major from Altamont, Ill. She plays the part of Olive Ostrovsky, a young newcomer to competitive spelling.
• Brianna Holder, a junior music education major from Moberly, Mo. She plays the part of Rona Perretti, the top realtor in Putnam County and the moderator of the spelling bee.
• Remington Jarvis, a senior individualized major from Canton, Mo. He plays the part of Douglas Panch, a vice principal who returns to be a judge at the bee after a five-year absence.
• Matthew Scheuermann, a senior theatre and music major from Quincy, Ill. He plays the part of Mitch Mahoney, the “official comfort counselor” who hands out juice boxes to losing students.

Bailey McNamar, a sophomore arts management major from Quincy, Ill., is the stage manager. Kirsten Lippold, a junior English education major from Carlinville, Ill., and Courtney Deeds, a senior theatre major from Fair Grove, Mo., are the assistant stage managers.

All performances are under the direction of David Lane, lecturer of speech/theater education at Culver-Stockton. Scenic design for the performance is under the direction of Seth Campbell, assistant professor of theatre.

For reservations, contact the C-SC Fine Arts Office at 573-288-6000, ext. 6346.

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is presented as part of the C-SC Academic and Cultural Events program.

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