Brundage Park Playhouse is proud to announce its upcoming auditions for
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
All auditioners must be available for all rehearsals during the entire tech week, March 30 through April 3, 2025, and for all performance dates. No appointments are necessary for auditions.
Information for auditioners: Auditioners must be 18 years of age or older. All auditioners will be provided with sides to read. Please prepare a minimum of 32 bars of a song from the show and supply a backing track for your audition. An accompanist will not be present. Kindly bring a headshot and resume, if available. Photos may be taken at the audition for performers without headshots.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Music and Lyrics by William Finn
Book by Rachael Sheinkin
Directed by J Cavaliere
Audition Dates:
- January 22 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
- January 25 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Auditions will be held at the Randolph Community Center
30 Calais Road
- Callbacks: January 29 (by invitation) – at the theatre
Performance Dates:
- April 4, 5, 11 & 12 at 7 pm
- April 6 & 13 at 3 pm
Characters:
Character Name Gender Part Size VOCAL PART
William Barfee Male Lead Tenor B4-E2 (Belting)
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 of spelling has boosted him to spelling glory.
Olive Ostrovsky Female Lead Mezzo-Soprano F5-B3 (Belting)
A shy young newcomer to competitive spelling. Her mother is in an ashram in India, and her father is working late, as usual, but he is trying to come sometime during the bee.
Logainne”Schartzy”
Swartzandgrubenierre Female Supporting Mezzo-Soprano F5-A3 (Belting)
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.
Marcy Park Female Supporting Mezzo-Soprano E5-C4 Middle C (Belting)
A recent transfer from Virginia, Marcy speaks six languages, is a member of all-American hockey, a championship rugby player, plays multiple instruments, sleeps only three hours a night, and is getting very tired of always winning.
Leaf Coneybear Male Supporting Tenor A4-A2 (Belting)
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.
Charlito “Chip” Tolentino Male Supporting Tenor B4-C3 (Belting)
An athletic, social, boy scout and champion of the Twenty-Fourth Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, he returns to defend his title.
Vice-Principal Douglas Panch
Male Featured Spoken
Frustrated with his life, he finds the drive of the young spellers alien to him. After five years’ absence from the Bee, Panch returns as judge. There was an “incident” at the Twentieth Annual Bee, but he claims to be in “a better place” now.
Rona Lisa Peretti Female Featured Mezzo-Soprano F5-B3 (Belting)
The number-one realtor in Putnam County, a former Putnam County Spelling Bee Champion herself, and the returning moderator.
Mitch Mahoney Male Featured Tenor A4-E3 (Belting)
The Official Comfort Counselor. An ex-convict, Mitch is performing his community service with the Bee, and hands out juice boxes to losing students.
Carl Dad/Leaf Male Ensemble Tenor D4-G2 (Belting)
Schwarzy’s main trainer, the more intense and competitive of Schwarzy’s fathers. Normally played by actor playing Leaf.
Dan Dad/Mitch Male Ensemble Tenor D4-G2 (Belting)
The more laid back and ineffectual of Schwarzy’s fathers. Normally played by the actor playing Mitch.
Jesus Christ/Chip Male Ensemble Tenor D4-G2 (Belting)
Deity invoked by a speller in need. Normally played by the actor playing Chip.
Leaf’s Family Any Ensemble
All more academically gifted than Leaf, they are even more surprised than he is by his success. Normally played by the spellers and audience volunteers.
Olive’s Dad/Mitch Male Ensemble Tenor E4-D3 (Belting)
A fantasy version of Olive’s dad coming to the bee from work. Normally played by the actor playing Mitch.
Olive’s Mom/Rona Female Ensemble Mezzo-Soprano E4-D4 (Belting)
A fantasy version of Olive’s mom at her Ashram in India. Normally played by the actor playing Rona.
Synopsis:
An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents (played by adults) vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. As they navigate the tournament’s pressures, the eccentric group finds a new sense of belonging. Along the way, they learn that there is more to life than winning a trophy. This charming coming-of-age tale also invites four volunteers from the audience to participate in each performance, ensuring new and unexpected comedy every show. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves! At least the losers get a juice box. A riotous ride, complete with audience participation, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a delightful den of comedic genius.