I have yet to describe the musical that I'm performing in this summer.
It's called "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee." ...I know--quite the title, right?
Well, it's being directed by my high school director/choreographer and a recent graduate who is currently studying acting at NYU (Tisch).
The musical revolves around these six misfit kids who are all partaking in their local spelling bee. If they win it, they get to move on to the nationals in Washington D.C. The bee comes to mean so much more than a simple competition to them. They're all weirdos, and being able to show off their spelling talents means the world to them. This also means that by being eliminated, the kids are heartbroken and feel like "losers."
I play the youngest contestant, Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, who speaks with a lisp and is the most socially conscious person at the competition, having two gay dads. Logainne is serious about not letting down her dads, or America for that matter, and therefore she must win no less than first prize.
The musical is SO much fun. It's absolutely hilarious, but also has some real moments about the sad truth and harshness in our society.
Oh and Jesse Tyler Ferguson was in the original broadway cast!!!! He was Leaf. Here's a clip of him performing one of the numbers...sorry, the quality isn't the best---but it's funny anyways.
It's called "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee." ...I know--quite the title, right?
Well, it's being directed by my high school director/choreographer and a recent graduate who is currently studying acting at NYU (Tisch).
The musical revolves around these six misfit kids who are all partaking in their local spelling bee. If they win it, they get to move on to the nationals in Washington D.C. The bee comes to mean so much more than a simple competition to them. They're all weirdos, and being able to show off their spelling talents means the world to them. This also means that by being eliminated, the kids are heartbroken and feel like "losers."
I play the youngest contestant, Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, who speaks with a lisp and is the most socially conscious person at the competition, having two gay dads. Logainne is serious about not letting down her dads, or America for that matter, and therefore she must win no less than first prize.
Other characters include: Chip--a boy scout who suffers from unplanned erections, Marcy--a smart (usually asian) girl who skipped 2 grades and can speak six languages, Leaf--a hippie child who wears a cape and helmet and is only capable of spelling by going into a bizarre trance, Olive--a sweet and lonely girl whose mom left the family to find herself in India and waits the entire bee for her dad to arrive from work, and Barfee--a bully-nerd who had to resign from last years spelling bee due to a peanut allergy.
The musical is SO much fun. It's absolutely hilarious, but also has some real moments about the sad truth and harshness in our society.
Oh and Jesse Tyler Ferguson was in the original broadway cast!!!! He was Leaf. Here's a clip of him performing one of the numbers...sorry, the quality isn't the best---but it's funny anyways.
This is awesome. I do not do theater, because I cannot act for my life, but I sing, and I once sang "I speak 6 languages". Now I stick to classical music and opera, but the song was fun, and difficult for me. Good luck in your show!
ReplyDeleteSweet! I'm not much of a singer, but I love to listen to classical/opera. :)
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