The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
at Annandale High School

Reviewed on April 30, 2022

Marlene Brasco
St. Paul VI Catholic High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

The word is "stupendous." Can we hear it in a sentence? Yes: "With its enthralling performance and impactful themes, Annandale High School's production of ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' was stupendous."

With music and lyrics by William Finn, the partially improvised musical followed Putnam County's elementary school students vying for first place in a spelling bee. Amid the show's zaniness existed sensitive topics, such as one contestant having two dads and another suffering from the stress of perfectionism, that preached a message of self-approval and inclusivity.

Compounding the theme of inclusivity, the bee contestants earned their stripes through their interactive and thoroughly engaging performances. Addressing the audience as if its members were spelling bee spectators, the cast immediately enveloped the audience in the story. The actors' improvisational timing was natural as it lent itself to the story's progression; playing Chip Tolentino, Jessup Gravitt successfully blended playful banter among audience members with his scripted punishment of selling concessions after being eliminated first in the bee.

Individual actors and ensemble bee members alike were anything but bumbling. As the monotone, uptight perfectionist Marcy Park, Kaya Thomas seamlessly demonstrated Marcy's character development as she let go of expectations and became a joyous free spirit. Also immersed in his role, even when he was not the focus of the scene, was Timothy Hurd as the seemingly rough but surprisingly gentle parolee, Mitch Mahoney. Equally engaging were actors Jewel Coulter and Aiden Scarbrough as spelling bee hosts Rona Lisa Peretti and Vice Principal Douglas Panch. With palpable onstage chemistry, the pair complemented each other with Scarbrough's expertly timed dead-pan comedy and Coulter's sophisticated ability to act as a foil for all of the show's antics. The main characters displayed their versatility as they were able to bounce in-and-out of musical numbers that functioned as character-revealing asides, and the ensemble members navigated through numerous roles while still maintaining a certain distinction between their many parts.

One would only need to experience the production's singing and dancing to understand what the musical's "buzz" was all about. As William Barfeé, a contestant who traced the letters of the spelling words on the floor with his feet, Jasson Rodriguez-Regalado showcased a delightfully rhythmic tap solo. The performers were able to retain their character-driven vocal tone and inflections not only throughout the dialogue but in their singing. For instance, Amanda Weaver as Olive Ostrovsky coupled her biting vocals with her tear-filled emotion to portray her frequently neglected character in the number "The I Love You Song."

Like busy worker bees, the production's tech crews worked diligently to ensure that the small details of the show were accentuated. Light designers Sandy Rocha and Mars Crowley enhanced the plot's climax through pink and blue lighting that split the final two contestants into separate camps. Kaya Thomas's ingenious hair and makeup designs ensured that characters like Leaf Coneybear, played by senior Nati Asgedom, would look younger with shimmering face sparkles and butterfly hair clips. Lastly, Atlas Martindale and Stephanie Manco's props designs, including an adorable capybara to explain one of the spelling words, added to the interactive nature of the show.

With engaging performances and immersive technical aspects, Annandale's production delivered the powerful theme of rejecting unnecessary expectations in order to promote inclusive camaraderie. Ultimately, Annandale High School's "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" was as sweet as honey.

Eliza LaViolette
Independence High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

Can you spell P-A-N-D-E-M-O-N-I-U-M?! Annandale High School took on the humorous and heartwarming show, The 25 Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, by Rachel Sheinkin. Six young and eccentric adolescents compete for victory and the chance at nationals. Yet they discover themselves, and new friends along the way.

From William Barfee's (Jasson Rodriguez-Regalado) tap dancing solo to Chip Tolentino's (Jessup Gravitt) humorous "distraction," this cast was jam packed with a talented cast that truly connected with their characters and proved so onstage. The female lead, Olive Ostrovsky (Amanda Weaver) started as a nervous girl determined to do well and have fun at the bee. However, Weaver managed to yank at your heartstrings as she began revealing her afflicted home life and loneliness. In her "The I Love You Song" Weaver finally broke through Olive's bubbly facade, showing her true emotion through her extraordinary facial expressions. Marcy and Schwartzy (Kaya Thomas and Casey Visscher) developed their characters' relationship in the background when they were not the pinnacle of the scene. Either poking, swatting, or merely glancing at each other in their seats, it was their dedication to those character choices that brought the childish feel to them.

The featured characters in this cast showed but a glimpse into their backstories with such a short amount of time onstage, but they made a lasting impact. One example of this was Timothy Hurd, who portrayed the out-of-place comfort counselor Mitch Mahoney. He strode onstage equipped with an apple juice tool belt, and a heart of gold. Hurd's ironically intimidating character consoled the eliminated spellers, and with each hug he gave them, the audience saw his demeanor soften and could see he cared about each kid individually, telling them that "disappointment doesn't last".

Audience participation was a major part of the performance. The actors had to rely on pure improv skills, as the audience members were unscripted. The cast was well prepared with funny responses and clever quips to whatever the person threw at them. Even when confronted with an adult audience member as a guest speller, the host Rona Lisa, (Jewel Coulter) was quick with a joke saying, "you must've been held back a grade!"

Other than the spellers, the "walk-on" roles and ensemble also used many props as characters themselves. Leif's capybara, Barfee's blow up letters, and even a dancer dressed as a dictionary, became more than just a person holding a prop. They integrated a recognizable part for themselves into the show. The hair and makeup department had the difficult task in making these high schoolers look elementary-age the only way one can. With butterfly clips, and glitter. Lots and lots of glitter. The actors interacted incredibly fluidly with the technical aspects of this show. Each sound cue was sharp and precisely on time, even in the improvisational moments. The lighting, though complex and clear, blended into the back of the audience's mind, and simply emphasized the actors during their special moments.

This performance had the audience laughing one moment and clutching their hearts the next. Come watch the young and maladjusted characters in this excellent show have their brief time to shine onstage at Annandale High School.

Nora Jacobson
Lake Braddock Secondary School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

You are ten years old again, walking tentatively into the largest gymnasium you've ever seen, where hosts and contestants alike babble on and colorful competition abounds. It's time to check in! The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is about to begin, and you might just be pulled to participate yourself.

Annandale High School's rendition of William Finn's The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee became part of an illustrious tradition of outstanding productions last Saturday night. The show began its Broadway run in 2005 and went on to win several Drama Desk Awards, Lucille Lortel Awards, Theatre World Awards, won two Tonys for "Best Book of a Musical" and "Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical," and was even nominated for a Grammy for "Best Musical Theater Album."

The production focused upon six bright young minds and national hopefuls in the form of Chip Tolentino, Logainne "Schwartzy" Schwartzandgrubeniere, Leaf Coneybear, William Barfée, Marcy Park, and Olive Ostrovsky at their titular county spelling bee. Competition was fierce, and the chemistry that bloomed between characters as the rounds passed by was even stronger.

Among other aspects, Putnam was unusual for a musical in that every character, including the hosts and comfort counselor of the bee, get their own spotlight moment. However, the speller that traditionally stood out the most as a lead was Olive Ostrovsky (Amanda Weaver), and Annandale's presentation was no exception. Weaver consistently showed the power of her range both as a traditional actress and vocalist, emphasizing small quirks in body language to convey her nerves and youthful energy at the start of the bee and tapping into a well of raw power for numbers like "The I Love You Song" in Act 2, even moving members of the audience to tears.

Tech was integral to creating unique characters as the actors built a harmonious unit of the spellers. Costumes (Phoenix Alvarado Diaz, Layan Masri) and Hair & Makeup (Kaya Thomas) lent each cast member distinctive characteristics. Nâti Asgedom's mannerisms as Leaf Coneybear were incredibly expressive on their own, but the glitter on their cheeks, butterfly clips perched in their hair, and fluttering candy wrapper cape turned this senior man into the sprightliest kid onstage. Contrastingly, Rona Lisa Peretti (Jewel Coulter) and Douglas Panch (Aiden Scarbrough), while artfully and uproariously funny, were expertly matured in their suit jackets, she with an added elegance and Panch with a foiling weariness. Properties, designed by Atlas Martindale and Stephanie Manco, played their own role unto themselves. Act 1 displayed a remarkably realistic rendition of a capybara, but props truly shone in Marcy Park's (Kaya Thomas) "I Speak Six Languages," as she was encircled by her extracurricular activities. Additionally, Park's numbers provided opportunities to showcase elaborate and masterfully executed choreography (Layan Masri, Amanda Weaver), incorporating stunning lifts as Thomas managed to maintain stable vocals. Choreography veritably sparkled any time Olive and the Dictionary (Layan Masri) had their own moment under exquisite lighting (Sandy Rocha, Mars Crowley). Throughout the show, lighting cues were extraordinarily well-timed, integrating beautiful hues particularly during "Pandemonium," "The I Love You Song," and "Second."

Attendees at Annandale High's The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee were asked to strap in for a thrillingly engaging hour and 45 minutes of spectacular fun, some volunteers even being thrown into the action. By the end of the night, however, they left with much, much more: nostalgia and a sense of both overwhelming sentimentality and having grown up along with the characters.

Wilson Weingast
Lake Braddock Secondary School
Submitted for publication to Patch (Fairfax/Alexandria)

Moderator: "Your words are "Annandale High School?" Student: "Could you please use it in a sentence?"

Annandale High School's production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (music by William Finn; book by Rachel Sheinkin) was nothing short of brilliant. The script originated from an improvised comedic sketch; as performed, actors were given creative control over bits of the show. Putnam County also relied heavily on audience participation, adding an element of off-the-cuff performance that made this production especially entertaining.

Annandale High School was able to bring to life an elementary school spelling bee, balancing exaggerated humor with a sobering backstory for each character. Each actor stayed in their role the entire time, whether they were in the spotlight or in the background. Rather than vying for attention, the actors complemented each other's strengths, creating an ensemble completely in sync.

Putnam County followed six elementary schoolers hoping to win the crown as the best speller in the county. Among the crowd favorites were the reigning champion, Chip (Jessup Gravitt), the ever-arrogant, Barfeé (Jasson Rodriguez-Regalado), and the protege, Marcy (Kaya Thomas). There were also underdogs: the youngster Shwartzy (Casey Visscher), the bashful, Olive (Amanda Weaver), and Leaf (Nâti Asgedom) who's just there because of a poorly timed Bar Mitzvah. Helping the competitors along their way was the witty Vice Principal Douglas Panch (Aiden Scarbrough), the charismatic host of the show Rona Lisa Peretti (Jewel Coulter), and the students' emotional support adult, Mitch (Timothy Hurd).

As the contest proceeded, the purpose became clear: the students weren't competing for a cash award or trophy, but rather to prove something, whether to their parents, their peers, or themselves.

Two actors that stood out were Amanda Weaver and Aiden Scarbrough. In the role of Douglas, Scarborough continuously had the audience laughing. From the improvised bits with audience members, coupled with dry humor throughout the show, Scarborough's comedic abilities were masterful. Each of the students that Douglas was monitoring was able to build off the comedic beat that Scarborough set, allowing for many memorable moments. As a whole, the speller ensemble acted as a unit; however, the script gave each student their time to shine. No one did this better than Amanda Weaver. As Olive, Weaver's incredible vocals brought the house down, especially in her soliloquy, ‘The I Love You Song.' Weaver's voice was spectacular, and in line with her phenomenal acting; the audience was drawn in as Olive came out of her shell.

In a show about elementary schoolers, it would be easy to go campy, however Annandale did not take the easy bait. Every prop, costume piece, and makeup design was purposeful and tailored to the specific actor. While still over the top, the costuming, designed by Phoenix Alvarado Diaz and Layan Masri, abided by the rules of color theory and contrasted nicely on stage. Each color portrayed something about the character, from Leaf's bright red candy wrapper cape to Douglas' muted brown suit. Another great design came courtesy of Kaya Thomas, with hair and makeup. The task of making teenagers look like elementary schoolers is very difficult, however Thomas' use of blush and highlights rejuvenated each actor.

Using Annandale High School in a sentence would most likely go like this: Annandale High School's production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was a hilarious adventure for theatre goers everywhere.

Elliot Baird
Lake Braddock Secondary School
Submitted for publication to Connection

How do you spell hilarious? In this case, the answer is unquestionably A-N-N-A-N-D-A-L-E-T-H-E-A-T-R-E-C-O-M-P-A-N-Y as they presented their production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

Putnam was originally conceived as an improv piece titled C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E written by Rebecca Feldman and performed at The Farm. William Finn later joined the project as composer and lyricist, and the musical premiered Off-Broadway at the Second Stage Theatre in January 2005. It moved to Broadway in April of that same year, garnering two Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Featured Actor. The story follows six children as they attempt to win the Putnam County Spelling Bee, discussing the unique situations in their life that brought them there. Also, it includes four guest spellers from the audience, making each night of the show different depending on how the guests perform.

The production was led by Amanda Weaver as Olive Ostrovsky. Her outstanding vocal performance, emotional vulnerability, and quirky charisma created a character undeniably worth rooting for. Another standout included Aiden Scarbrough's Douglas Panch, notable for his deadpan delivery and unflappable improvisation, including a perfect off the cuff rendition of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. Jewel Coulter as Rona Lisa Peretti filled the role with a sophisticated elegance, contrasting with the zany childishness around her, and Jessup Gravitt showed a heart wrenching earnestness even alongside his comedic performance.

Props by Atlas Martindale, Han Nguyen, Amelia Mongold, and Stephanie Manco added an extra level to the comedy. Their commitment to detail on pieces that would only appear for a few seconds as a gag, such as a foam capybara or an entire Washington Monument, helped the show to come alive. Costumes by Layan Masri and Phoenix Alvarado Diaz completely informed the characters, helping to build the illusion of childhood in the teenage actors. Sandy Rocha and Mars Crowley's lighting design was elaborate and fast-paced, but also very beautiful in key scenes, heightening the show's emotional moments with symbolic colors and dramatic spotlights.

The strongest moments of the show were in the collaboration between the principal cast, ensemble, and technical elements. A number in the first act, "Pandemonium," showcased this with flashing disco lights, high energy choreography, and an ensemble member versus audience participant basketball contest, in a romp undoubtedly to the credit of assistant director Adam Michelman. This same effect was achieved in a far more haunting direction later in the show with Kayla Osipchak, David Miller, and Amanda Weaver's incredibly moving performance of "The I Love You Song," supported by dramatic lighting and staging.

For anyone looking to have rollicking fun, to be genuinely moved, or just to learn how to spell "weltanschauung," Annandale Theatre Company's production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee can't be more recommended.

Alice McNutt
Broad Run High School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

Define a spectacular show? Oh of course! The one with origins in Annandale! The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee, a book by Rachel Sheinkin, has music and lyrics written by William Finn. The musical premiered as a comedy in 2005 and was based off C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E, an improvisational play written by Rebecca Feldman. This musical follows children as they gather in the gym of Putnam Valley Middle School for a life-changing spelling bee full of personal development and emotional enlightenment.

As the lights came up, we saw Rona Lisa Peretti (Jewel Coulter) telling her story through beautiful vocals and sharing her interest in spelling bees which began when she won one when she was young. As Peretti introduced the show, Vice Principal Douglas Panch (Aiden Scarbrough) came in with a failed attempt to woo Peretti, which resulted in consistent and hilarious bickering throughout the show. These two were quick and witty with improvised responses, when unsuspecting audience members made their way onto the stage to get quizzed as participants in the spelling bee. When they got disqualified, they were kindly escorted off-stage by Mitch Mahoney (Timothy Hurd) who always caught the audience's eye with large physicality and extensive characterization, while giving insight into the life of someone who deals with crazy kids…without violating parole. When Marcy Park (Kaya Thomas) first walked in, she seemed to be an "all business" kid aiming for perfection. As the show progressed, Thomas's character bloomed into someone the audience loved and rooted for as she learned how to claim her life back from the expectations of her parents. Olive Ostrovsky (Amanda Weaver) showcased her wonderful, sweet vocals in The I Love You Song when she talked about her broken household. Every moment of this song was heartfelt and picture-perfect with lights that highlighted Weaver while silhouetting Olive's mom and dad (David Miller and Kayla Osipchak).

Playful, unique, and childish in all the right ways, the costume and make-up department deserved a trophy of their own for their work. A memorable look was Leaf Coneybear's cape, made completely out of candy wrappers, which had colorful makeup to match and butterfly clips to top it all off. Each actor's look was personalized perfectly to match and enhance their character. The Props team helped to immerse the audience in the show with 3D comedy like their own foam capybara to help the audience get a visual to go with the word that was being spelled. Other things like a giant light bulb to simulate an idea, a 3rd place medal, and a campaign sticker for Schwartzy gave the feeling of watching a fun, comforting childhood cartoon. The choreography by Layan Masri and Amanda Weaver for Magic Foot included a tap solo from William Barfee (Jasson Rodriguez-Regalado) that ended with a kickline and included all main spellers and ensemble alike to celebrate his winning technique of spelling words on the floor with his foot.

From the second these six children sat down to begin this spelling bee, to the end where new friendships, life outlooks, and spelling habits developed, the fond feelings toward the characters and experience of Annandale's show would be difficult to put into an example sentence.