Review: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Two Planks Theater Company is sharing a wonderful production of the Tony Award winning musical ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ through March 6. The company’s winter performances are presented in the United Methodist Church in Monroe and the venue lends a little more of a community feel to the elementary school spelling bee that happens during this always fun musical.

Two Planks is using this show to bring attention to the Newtown-based organization The Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement. The Choose Love Movement’s mission is to provide free social and emotional learning curriculum to school districts worldwide and was named for one of the children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on 12/14. Jesse’s mother Scarlett Lewis, the founder of the organization, was in attendance on opening night and noted that the timing of this partnership with Two Planks was perfect because it follows on the heels of the second Annual Social and Emotional Learning Awareness Week in the state of CT proclaimed by Governor Malloy. Kudos to this theatre company for bringing attention to an important issue and giving back to the community with a show that focuses on the social and emotional challenges that the young spellers face as they grow up.

I was thrilled to see the wonderfully talented C.J. Landgrebe from Newtown in a community theatre production. He was a standout as Theseus in the magical ‘A ROCKIN’ Midsummer Night’s Dream’ with the 1214 Foundation and I also remembered him in ‘Liberty Smith.’ So it was no surprise that he was excellent in the role of Boy Scout Chip Tolentino. It was a joy to hear the voice that I often listen to on the ROCKIN’ CD singing so well on every one of his numbers; I missed him when his character was eliminated until he returned in a more Heavenly role.

CLICK HERE TO READ MY ENTIRE REVIEW ON ONSTAGE

Two Planks smartly invited area celebrities to join the cast onstage as “guest spellers” that include local politicians, school administrators and US Senator Richard Blumenthal. Rest assured that there is still room on the “missing spellers” list for other brave audience members. For me, ‘Spelling Bee’ never gets old and this is a great production featuring lots of talented performers. This venue is easy to find and this show is worth the trip to Monroe.

Photos of the cast by Technical Director Robert Primorac