Schools
MHS Musings: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
A preview of the MHS Limelight Players' annual fall musical, opening this weekend
The Millburn High School Limelight Players are excited to present “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” as their annual fall musical this upcoming weekend.
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is a hilarious tale of overachievers' angst, chronicling the experience of six adolescent outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. The spelling bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time, as the characters undeniably grow through their experience.
The musical will be performed on Friday, Nov. 16 and Saturday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the MHS auditorium. Tickets are $10 if you call 973-376-3600 extension 455 in advance, and they are $12 at the door. Seats are reserved.
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The ensemble includes sophomore dancers Jillian Berkowitz, Lucy Grebin, Daniela Kaplun, and Carly Maitlin; senior Christopher McHugh and sophomore Alec Wolf as Logainne’s fathers; and junior Cynthia Mustafa & freshman Alex Maron as Olive’s parents.
The production staff includes director Paul Weinstein, musical director Rodrigo Vega, choreographer Kendall Stagaard, orchestra director and conductor Karen Conrad, stage crew advisor Matt Spatz, set designer Roger Keller, and producer Erin Smith.
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Weinstein, who teaches high school English and drama in Kenilworth and has directed more than 25 shows, enjoys working with the students creatively. He thinks the show provides a refreshing contrast to the past few Limelight musicals. "I tend to like shows that find new ways of making the audience part of the experience (i.e. Drood). Also, "Spelling Bee" definitely contains much of my type of humor - really quirky, bordering on absurdity".
Smith, who teaches general music at Hartshorn Elementary, said she is thrilled to be able to produce her fifth Limelight musical. She is also impressed by the talented students in the cast. "They are so incredibly dedicated, and I am stunned at [their] professionalism... each of them have the trifecta: singing, acting and dancing!."
The cast of "Spelling Bee" is hoping for large crowds this weekend, to support their hard work over the past three months. The show is appropriate for all ages and will be enjoyed by all audiences: adults and children alike.
