Swampscott High School’s music department and drama club will perform The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on Thursday, April 9, and Friday, April 10.
Curtain rises at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15, or $10 for students and seniors, and are available online at ticketstage.com/bin/f.wk?ts.performance.gen.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a Tony Award–winning comedy about students competing for a spelling bee championship. The characters share stories about personal struggles, puberty and outside pressures to succeed. The book is written by Rachel Sheikin, with music and lyrics by William Finn.
“I’ve loved watching the ensemble sort of vibe that the show has. You’re together all the time. Other shows sometimes have two things going on at once and sometimes two people who never really overlap, but in this show you guys are all together really always,” said Assistant Director Kayla LeClerc. “It’s been really cool to see the relationships grow onstage and off in that process.”
The musical comes with the disclaimer that the “production contains mild profanity, irreverent humor, and comedic themes related to puberty that may not be suitable for children under the age of 14.”
Junior stage manager Chloe Halvorsen said the musical “is a lot more fun than ones we’ve done in the past.” Sophomore Jack Regan said that the production has “all come together nicely.” Senior Mikayla Warwick added that this year’s cast is larger than last year’s ensemble.
“It’s been really fun. It’s one of my favorite clubs that I’ve done,” said Warwick, who noted she’ll continue drama in college. “I know that the freshmen and sophomores and juniors that are taking over will be just as incredible as this grade.”
Senior Aneesa Depina agreed, noting that “when we all come together in unison, it just works so much better,” especially under time pressure as the drama club advanced to extended rounds of the Drama Fest competition.
Director James Pearse said, however, that the “cast and crew have dealt with (the time crunch) beautifully.”
Freshman Marcus Shabalala said the production has been “more serious” than projects he’s worked on in the past.
“I’ve been enjoying this a lot more so far mainly because of how much more we’re doing,” Shabalala said. “I’m excited to do more in the future.”
This is also sophomore Hadley Husted’s first production after participating only in chorus, and she will take on a lead role as Rona Lisa Perretti.
“It’s been a little difficult at some point but other than that I feel great,” Husted said.
Sophomore Milo Kalambokis, who plays Chip Tolentino, said that being a lead is “hard work but it’s worth it.”
Although it’s freshman Kristy Van Dam’s first year at Swampscott High School, she previously performed in musicals in sixth and seventh grade.
“It’s been great,” Van Dam said. “I’m excited…I just love what Mr. Pearce does, and I can tell he works really hard.”
The Swampscott High School’s production of the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will star:
- Hadley Husted as Rona Lisa Perretti
- Milo Kalambokis as Chip Tolentino
- Kristy Van Ddam as Logainne Schwartzandgrubeniere
- Michael Schwartz as Leaf Coneybear
- Leo Blessman as William Barfee
- Kira Madruga as Marcy Park
- Scout Myers-Smith as Olive Ostrovsky
- Noah Wierl as Douglas Panch
- Ella Douillette as Mitch Mahoney
- Alex Winkelman as Audience Volunteer #1, speller
- Drew Domelowicz as Audience Volunteer #2
- Aneesa Depina as Audience Volunteer #3
- Mikayla Warwick as Audience Volunteer #4, speller
- Leo Stevig-Lewis as Carl Dad, speller
- Freddie Nohelty as Dan Dad, speller
- Samantha Sparacio as Leaf’s Mom, speller
- Sadie Bell as Marigold Coneybear
- Leo Stevig-Lewis as Pinecone Coneybear
- Jack Regan as Raisin Coneybear, speller, ensemble
- Marcus Shabalala as Paul Coneybear, speller
- Charles Cunningham as Leaf’s Dad
- Erin Harrington Grier as Olive’s Mom, speller
- Bo Pica as Olive’s Dad, speller
- Cam Tracy as Jesus, speller
- Sadie Bell as ensemble
- Charles Cunningham as ensemble
- Drew Domelowicz as ensemble
- Izzy Honig as ensemble
- Evelyn Miller as ensemble
- Naiomi Montanez Minaya as ensemble
- Abee Pena as ensemble
- Lila Rose Schwartz as ensemble
- Stella Davis as speller
- Niamh Murphy as speller
The crew includes:
- Chloe Halvorsen as a stage manager
- Olivia Rooney as a stage manager
- Zayne Hilderbrand as an assistant stage manager
- Dylan Fafel as lights
- Gia Ball as lights assistant
- Kit Fallon as spot light operator
- Jasper Kaiser as spot light operator
- Ava Miller as sound mics
- Zoe Bannister as sound sfx, assistant mics
- Eva Antaya as props manager
- Kate Barricelli as props manager and stage crew
- Ruby Hamilton as stage crew
- Maylin Tat as stage crew
Cam Tracy contributed to this story. This is a contribution from a Swampscott High School student, as part of the Swampscott Tides Big Blue Student News selection.
