SALAMANCA – The Cattaraugus County Living Arts Association will present the musical comedy, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” this May.
The show will transform the Ray Evans Seneca Theatre into Putnam Valley Middle School, where a local cast depicts characters eager to win the school’s spelling bee, each for a different reason. For instance, there is sweet, shy Olive, who brings her best friend-a dictionary-to the bee. She faces off against a bold, hyper-allergic student, another struggling with puberty, and a student unconvinced he’s smart enough to win. There’s an overachieving student disappointed in her consistent success and a politically-aware pupil, who only wants to impress her gay dad.
The characteristic cast combines its talents in funny, touching songs through which each speller reveals his or her own hopes, struggles and passions that cause audiences to fall in love with the show and its spellers.
The local cast includes Kathryn Black, Dwain Graham, Mike Staley, Chase Smallback, Kallie Bain, Devyn Neiman, Kaleb Shaw, Sydney Sider, Justin Blakeslee, Brandon Milanowski, Gabriel Grey, Carline Todd and Jayden Harris.
Directed locally by William J. Steffen, the PG-13 musical features lyrics by William Finn, and is adapted from the book by Rachel Sheinlin and was conceived by Rebecca Feldman with additional material from Jay Reuss.
The show will be performed at 7:30 p.m. May 17, 18, 24, 25 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 26 at the 10 Main Street theater.
Tickets for the show are $15 and can be purchased at the door and thru Showclix.