Arts Collective Presents 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'

Howard Community College’s Arts Collective wraps up its 21st season with a three weekend run of the Tony Award-winning musical, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” directed by Anthony Scimonelli, with musical direction by Mayumi Baker Griffie and choreography by Jess Beach. The cast features the talents of HCC students, alumni, and guest performers, as well as the creative team.

Cheer on six kids, who are in the midst of puberty, as they compete for the spelling bee championship of a lifetime! With allergies, crushes, magic feet, neat freaks, musicians, growing pains, and dictionaries, this bee promises an unforgettable, wild ride, where the kids learn that winning isn't everything (but at least you get a juice box). Winner of the Tony Award and the Drama Desk award for Best Book, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” has charmed audiences everywhere with its comic genius… complete with audience participation.

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” opens Thursday, May 19 and runs weekends through June 5, 2016, in the Studio Theatre of the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center at Howard Community College, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Maryland. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. The final performance on Sunday, June 5 will include a lively post-show discussion with the cast and artistic team.

Tickets are $20 for general admission; $15 for seniors, military, and groups; and $10 for students (ages 12 and up). Please note: this show is recommended for ages 12 and up. Seating is limited. Advance purchase is recommended.

To purchase tickets, contact Box Office for the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center at 443-518-1500 or www.howardcc.edu/boxoffice. For additional information about the show or for directions, visit www.howardcc.edu/artscollective.

Cast:
Gabrielle Amaro (Olive Ostrovsky)

Jordan Colea (Marcy Park)

Diego Esmolo (Charlito “Chip” Tolentino, Carl Grubenierre, Dance Captain)

Warren C. Harris (William Morris Barfée)

Daniel Johnston (Vice Principal Douglas Panch, Jesus Christ, Dan Schwartz)

Kaity Krull (Logainne “Schwarzy” Schwartzandgrubenierre)Brandon Love (Mitch Mahoney)

Cole Richard Watts (Leaf Coneybear, Olive’s Dad)

Lauren Blake Williams (Rona Lisa Paretti, Olive’s Mom)

Creative and Production Teams:

Music/Lyrics: William Finn

Book: Rachel Sheinkin

Conceived by: Rebecca Feldman

Additional Material by: Jay Reiss

Director: Anthony Scimonelli

Music Director: Mayumi Baker Griffie

Choreographer: Jess Beach

Set and Props Design: Mollie Singer

Light Design: Andrew Haag, Jr.

Costume Design: Robert Croghan

Stage Management: Ally Cribbs

Assistant Stage Manager: Chania Hudson

About the Director

Anthony Scimonelli co-directed Howard Community College’s Arts Collective (AC) production of “It’s A Wonderful Life” last season with Gareth Kelly and directed “Nobody In Particular.” He performed in many AC productions from 1994–2015, including recent productions of “What Improv Group’s (W.I.G.’s) Hallow Scream Improv Show,” “Eat the Runt,” and serving as co-emcee at “Coffee House Under the Stars.” Currently, he is an artistic associate and company member with Pumpkin Theatre in Baltimore, where he has performed in “Snow White,” “Aladdin,” “Peter Pan,” and “Jack and the Beanstalk.” He worked as a designer, musician, and actor with “Spotlight UB” at the University of Baltimore from 2008–2014 and is the resident videographer at Spotlighters Theater.

About HCC’s Arts Collective

Howard Community College’s critically-acclaimed Arts Collective (AC) is committed to offering diverse, innovative, awe-inspiring works across all genres from the classics to the cutting edge. Established in 1994, AC continues to push the artistic boundaries with its productions of theatre, original works, improv comedy, and musical theatre. AC supports, nurtures, and fuses collaborative relationships among artists with and without performance experience.

About HCC

Since 1970, Howard Community College (HCC) has been a preferred college choice for students and families in Howard County, Maryland. A public community college, HCC offers associate degree and certificate programs, as well as workforce development training and continuing education classes, to nearly 30,000 credit and noncredit students each year. Among HCC’s recent honors is being named a “Great College to Work For” by the Chronicle of Higher Education for the seventh consecutive year.