GALION — “A riotous ride, complete with audience participation” is what’s in store for those who attend the Galion Community Theatre’s (GCT) presentation of the musical comedy “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
The “delightful den of comedic genius ” will be presented on stage five times over the next two weekends. The opening weekend is Friday and Saturday, Nov. 12-13. Showtime each night is at 8 p.m. The production wraps up the following weekend with shows scheduled for 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 19-20 and a matinee at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 21.
GCT board member Beth Anne Jarvis said it’s a relief to be able to reopen the theatre to the public for live productions after nearly a two-year hiatus. The theatre did present “Godspell” last summer, but no other productions have been shown.
“We’ve been itching and our actors have been itching to get back up on stage,” Jarvis said. “We’ve been trying to entertain the community and give what we can to the community while keeping everyone safe. Now that things are slowly getting back to normal, we are thrilled to be able welcome people back into the seats and have 2022 be our first full season since 2019-2020.”
Coldan Draper and Cheryl Russell are co-directors of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” Caitlyn Barbour and Kirsten McCarthy are the musical directors. Beth Anne Jarvis is the choreographer and Charlie Adcock is the stage manager.
The cast features Tony Baer, Victoria Faeth, Mary Faulds, Jason Kempf, Rowan Kempf, Randy Mann, Miranda Mee, Darci Porter, Sam Starr, and Morgan Walsh.
“The actors on stage for this one are incredibly talented,” Jarvis said. “There aren’t going to be many moments at all where the audience isn’t going to be just cracking up laughing or amazed by the singing and acting going on on the stage.”
According to the production’s synopsis, the play features “An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents (vying) 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 un-affirming ‘ding’ of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves! At least the losers get a juice box.”
Visitors to the Galion Community Theatre’s membership celebration and 2022 season preview on Sunday, Nov. 7 saw a brief preview of the production that included two musical numbers from the show.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.galiontheatre.org or by calling the GCT box office at 419-468-2662.
Keep up with events at the Galion Community Theatre through its website, Facebook page, Twitter account (@GalionTheatre), and Instagram (@GalionTheatre).
