Weston Native to Star in THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

MOONSTRUCK THEATER COMPANY is pleased to present THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, opening Friday, July 15th, and running for six performances through Sunday, July 24th.

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is the story of how six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser. This hilarious tale of overachievers and adolescent angst chronicles the experience of outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime, all while trying to avoid the soul-crushing "ding" of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves! At least the losers get a juice box. Add in a vibrant score, an award-winning script, and heaps of audience participation, and you’ll get swept away by this fast paced, witty, charming musical.

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE features 9 performers from the Greater Boston area, including Boston resident and Weston native Cara Guappone who plays Marcy Park, a recent transfer student from Virginia who placed ninth in last year’s spelling bee nationals. She is an over-achiever who plays multiple instruments, is an all-American athlete, only sleeps 3 hours a night, and is getting very tired of always winning.

“I am quite frequently cast as teens/children, so I figured Spelling Bee had to be on the list. But actually, coming off having just played another child role, I'm enjoying playing the opposite side of that coin. Marcy is super straight edge; she's both precise and accurate and knows the difference between the two,” says Guappone. “I love the audience participation aspect; at a recent rehearsal I promptly discovered that the order of the show that I thought to be true was, in fact, dramatically different with new audience volunteers thrown into the mix.”

Guappone, who has been performing since grade school, just wrapped up the role of Little Sally in Urinetown with the Longwood Players. “It had been a dream role of mine since I was in the ensemble of the show in High School. I think I truly thrive in comedic roles, and getting to play that role with a cast and director who, in every moment, explored every possible joke - that was a dream.” When not onstage, Cara is a User Experience Designer at a digital design agency in the South End. She went to school for Theater and Engineering Psychology - and as such, possesses a Bachelor of Science in Drama.

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is directed by Caroline Fonseca and music directed by Samantha Prindiville. The production will be presented at Avalon Dance & Fitness, 345 Trapelo Rd, Belmont, MA. Advance tickets are $22 for general admission and $18 for senior citizens and students. Tickets purchased at the door are $25 for general admission and $22 for senior citizens and students. For tickets, reservations, and more information, visit www.moonstrucktheater.org.