Free performances of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” are planned for Thursday-Saturday, July 9-11, with showtimes at 7 p.m. on the outdoor stage on the back lawn of Woodlawn Arts Academy in Sterling.
In this riotous ride, complete with audience participation, 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 lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves a champion! At least the losers get a juice box. The musical theatre production is presented by special arrangement with MTI Shows.
The production brings together directors, actors, musicians, and designers from across the Sauk Valley area. Theatre in the Park veteran Joel Megill returns to the stage as Vice Principal Douglas Panch alongside Jenna Mingus as Rona Lisa Peretti. Spellers will be portrayed by Jordann Langner-Fishman, Brayden Rodriguez and Grace Wadsworth, all who have been featured in previous Theatre in the Park productions, along with Sean Sandrock, Cory McGowan and Jocelyn Pink. Other local actresses taking the stage are Brandi Newell and Kerensa Pink. The production is directed by Ellen Bentley with music direction by Jason Barrette.
Bring a chair and grab a place on the lawn at Woodlawn Arts Academy in Sterling. Guests may bring their own snacks and beverages. In case of inclement weather, the show and/or character experience event will be moved inside Woodlawn Arts Academy.
The Sauk Valley Theatre Alliance is a partnership among Centennial Auditorium, Sauk Valley Community College and Woodlawn Arts Academy to provide the community with quality theatre experiences. Woodlawn Arts Academy is an agency of United Way of Lee and Whiteside Counties. The Academy acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council.
