AUDITIONS

SYNOPSIS:

In a high school gym, long time hostess, Rona Lisa Peretti, finalizes the preparations for the annual county spelling bee, reminiscing about her own spelling bee victory, many years prior. The current crop of spelling contenders arrives ("The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"). The contestants include last year's champ, Chip (a boy scout), Schwarzy (the youngest and most politically aware contestant), Coneybear (the somewhat wide-eyed offspring of hippie parents), Barfee (an allergy-plagued student), Marcy (an over-achieving Asian-American) and Olive (a tentative newcomer).

Rona also calls on four volunteers from the audience to join the competition (these are real audience members who have been selected through an interview process before the show).

It is revealed that Olive has failed to pay her $25 entrance fee, but Rona assures her that it will be worked out later. Barfee rudely fends off Olive's attempts to befriend him. Rona introduces Vice Principal Douglas Panch, a last-minute substitute word pronouncer, and Mitch Mahoney, a menacing ex-con who is serving as "Comfort Counselor" as a part of his community service sentence. Panch, Rona and the spellers review the contest's elimination-style rules ("The Rules").

The contest begins. As the students are individually called upon, Rona provides color commentary, revealing background info about each of them. A flashback reveals that Coneybear only made in into this contest because his school's winner and first runner-up were unable to attend due to a Bar Mitzvah. He appears to have no hope of spelling words correctly, but snaps into abrupt trances, during which he performs perfectly.

Olive reflects on a lonely childhood, where her main source of companionship (and spelling excellence) was a dictionary ("My Friend the Dictionary"). The audience volunteers are also called upon to participate. Volunteers who answer incorrectly are eliminated ("Goodbye #1"). Barfee uses a bizarre "magic foot" technique to spell his words.

Rona reveals that Marcy placed high in the ranking for last year's national spelling bee, impressing all of the contestants. One of the audience volunteers is asked to spell "cow," prompting outrage from the contestants. The contest swings into high gear ("Pandemonium") as Panch requests spellings for words that vary enormously in their level of difficulty.

A flashback reveals Schwarzy, drilling for the contest with her two overbearing gay dads. Coneybear, for the second consecutive time, is asked to spell a word related to South American rodents. He confesses that his family does not consider him to be particularly intelligent ("I'm Not That Smart").

Barfee calls upon his magic foot technique to help him spell the word, "hasenpfeffer" ("Magic Foot"). By this point in the contest, all but one of the audience volunteers have probably been eliminated. Chip is eliminated after getting distracted by seeing Coneybear's attractive sister, Marigold, in the audience ("Pandemonium – Reprise"). Mitch escorts him from the stage ("Chip Goodbye").

Rona is excited by the unexpected early elimination of last year's champ ("Rona Moment #2").

The final audience volunteer is eliminated when asked to spell a ridiculously difficult word. Mitch consoles the loser ("Prayer of the Comfort Counselor").

During a snack break, Chip distributes free candy to the audience and laments the fact that his sexual arousal cost him a victory in the spelling bee ("My Unfortunate Erection"). Chip bickers with Barfee and terrorizes him with a packet of peanut M&Ms before being ejected. Olive comforts Barfee.

As the break ends and the bee resumes, Schwarzy reflects on the tremendous pressure placed on her by her dads ("Woe Is Me"). A lighting-fast blaze of spelling ensues, and Coneybear is eliminated when he fails to spell chinchilla correctly ("I'm Not That Smart – Reprise").

Rona reveals that Marcy speaks six languages. Marcy is exasperated at always being thought of as superior in every way ("I Speak Six Languages"). She is asked to spell the word, "camouflage," whereupon she rhetorically exclaims "Dear Jesus, can't you come up with a harder word than that?" Much to her astonishment, Jesus Christ immediately appears and reveals that He doesn't care who wins this contest. Marcy, relieved, deliberately misspells her word, joyfully eliminating herself.

Only Schwarzy, Olive and Barfee remain. Olive receives a phone call from her dad. Taking advantage of the pause, Schwarzy seizes the microphone and makes a political statement. One of Schwarzy's dads attempts to sabotage Barfee by pouring a can of Coke onto the stage, hoping the stickiness will immobilize Barfee's magic foot. It is implied that Olive's father is unwilling to pay her $25 entrance fee.

Olive is given the word "chimerical," which means "wildly fanciful and highly unrealistic." This prompts her to fantasize about her neglectful parents ("The I Love You Song").

Barfee's magic foot is foiled by the spilled Coke, but he manages to spell "crepuscule" correctly anyway. Schwarzy is eliminated ("Woe is Me – Reprise"). Only two spellers remain, and Rona is breathless with excitement ("Rona Moment #3").

After a volley of correctly spelled words, Olive misspells a word ("Second, Part One") and Barfee hesitates before claiming victory, sensitive to Olive's feelings. Olive reassures him, and he claims the victory. Panch, taking pity on Olive, invents a $25 prize for "runner up," which he produces out of his own pocket to cover Olive's entrance fee. Rona is moved by Panch's kind gesture. Olive and Barfee warmly congratulate each other.

A series of epilogues reveal the future fates of the characters and explains how their experiences during the spelling bee shaped each of their lives ("Finale").

PRODUCED by SPOTLIGHT STAGE COMPANY

DIRECTED & DESIGNED by STEPHEN AMATO

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050845a9ad2aaafc1-auditions2#/

Please review the information below and sign up to hold your spot for registration. This program encompasses the entire Summer Youth Program experience*. Please note the available options and sign up for which ever suits you or your young performer best:

The timeless enchantment of a magical fairy tale is reborn with the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm and elegance. Originally presented on television in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella was the most widely viewed program in the history of the medium. Its recreation in 1965 starring Lesley Ann Warren was no less successful in transporting a new generation to the miraculous kingdom of dreams-come-true, and so was a second remake in 1997, which starred Brandy as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as her Fairy Godmother. As adapted for the stage, with great warmth and more than a touch of hilarity, this enthralling fairy tale still warms the hearts of children and adults alike.

In this specially created Youth Edition, all the beloved songs and familiar characters are present and accounted for. However, the entire script has been condensed to better suit young attention spans, and the plot has been slightly altered to highlight some important lessons for contemporary audiences.

Information for Classes:

Acting classes and Audition workshops are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Classes run May 9-June 15, 2023

8-12 years old: Tuesday Acting Class and Thursday Audition Workshop (5:30-6:45pm)

13-18 years old: Tuesday Acting Class and Thursday Audition Workshop (6:45-8:45pm)

Production Details:

Ages: 5-18 

Rehearsals run Tuesday and Thursday evenings 5:30-7:30 from June 20-August 9, 2023. At the end of July, we will extend to 8pm.

*Production Fee (show only): $150 per artist for those only doing the show and not signing up for classes as per the Summer Youth Program details. Those doing ONLY THE SHOW do not have to sign up until public auditions are announced in April.

Registration for SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAM

EARLY REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED AND PAID FOR IN-PERSON by March 5, 2023 11:30am-1:30pm at the North Haven Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union Branch (117 Washington Ave, North Haven). Signing up on this forum holds your place. Payment must be made in-person (cash or check) and the information packet and calendar is to be picked up at the time of payment. There is a $50 discount for early registration for the class and production combo only. 

Rate for 6 weeks of class and 8 weeks of rehearsal: $450/performer

REGISTRATION DEADLINE is April 2, 2023 11:30am-1:30pm at the North Haven Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union Branch (117 Washington Ave, North Haven). We will hold your place until this time, but payment will be the regular rate and must be made in-person (cash or check) and the information packet and calendar is to be picked up at the time of payment. 

Rate for 6 weeks of class and 8 weeks of rehearsal: $500

WHERE IS REGISTRATION? Registration for both days will be at the North Haven Nutmeg State Financial Credit Union Branch (117 Washington Ave, North Haven)

Questions? If there are any inquiries, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Christopher at spotlightchristopher@gmail.com

Want to Volunteer? We have found so many families wanting to get in on the experience of live theater with their kids. If you’d like to join one of our production teams, please contact Sandy at spotlightsandy@gmail.com

Produced by Spotlight Stage Company

Directed by Christopher Zullo

Choreographed by Michelle Bonavena

Scenic Design by Stephen Amato

Costume Design by Shayna Amato

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050845a9ad2aaafc1-cinderella#/