Broadway's Spelling Bee comes to Andover

Broadway family-friendly entertainment is alive and well in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee takes to the Collins Center stage for four performances April 28-30 2016. A Broadway sensation in 2005 it was nominated for five Tony awards, including Best Book. The musical immerses the audience into the lives of some quirky middle school kids who are competing in the county spelling bee.

An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home life, the tweens spell their way through a series of [potentially made-up] words hoping to never hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming "ding" of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves! At least the losers get a juice box…

We have last year’s winner Charlito “Chip” Tarentino, played by Ryan Doyle. Chip is a Boy Scout, athlete, and he is expecting an easy cruise to victory-but puberty proves too distracting. Next we have Rosie DeLuca as Olive Ostrovsky, a newcomer to competitive spelling who arrived via bus sans parents as her mother is in an ashram in India, and her father is perpetually working late. Edward Lu as William Morris Barfée, a finalist last year when he was eliminated due to a pesky peanut allergy. He only has one working nostril and a touchy personality. Francesca Lionetta is Logainne "Schwarzy" SchwartzandGrubenierre, a neat freak that speaks with a lisp, always commenting on current political figures and has two overbearing gay fathers. Marcy Park, played by Charlotte Lowell is a Catholic schoolgirl over-achiever who speaks six languages, plays Chopin and Mozart on multiple instruments, sleeps only three hours a night, and is tired of always winning. Jake Dalimonte plays Leaf Coneybear, a highly-sheltered homeschooled kid from a large family of former hippies that makes his own crazy clothes. He spells words correctly while in a trance.

As in the original production some unsuspecting audience members will also be brought to the stage to participate as spellers in the contest, adding excitement and even more laughs.

There will be 4 performances, April 28,29,30 at 7:30PM, and a matinee April 30 at 2:00PM at the Collins Center for the Performing Arts at Andover High School, 80 Shawsheen Rd., Andover. Tickets are $25 Adults, $15 Students/Seniors, and $5 for AHS Students with ID card. For the opening performance on Thursday the 28th, ALL Student/Senior tickets are $5. Tickets are available online at andovertheatrearts.com or at the Box Office. For Group Sales or to Order by Phone call (978) 623-8666.

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About AHS Drama

Drama is an important aspect of education at Andover High School. Drama productions provide a stage for student actors, enlist the expertise of student technicians and celebrate individual talents and collaborative efforts to create enlightened artists and scholars. For those students wishing to pursue an undergraduate education in theatre and the performing arts, the Drama Department strives to prepare these students by providing them with the knowledge, skills and opportunities necessary for establishing a life-long association with the theatre. The objectives of the Andover High School drama program continue to be to teach essential theatre skills and foster a love and appreciation for this art form. Faculty and students collaborate to select material that is of the best quality and which reflects Andover High School’s values as a community of learners.
For further information visit andovertheatrearts.com