"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" Seeks Teens
Looking for performers ages 16+ for "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee". Please see the details below. ONLY LOCAL TALENT WILL BE ACCEPTED. Additional info: AUDITION PREPARATION, DATES & SUBMISSION Present a memorized one minute song that is character and objective driven. Songs from Spelling Bee are acceptable, or from another musical that is in the style of the show. Please bring sheet music; an accompanist will be provided. Also, either present a memorized one-minute contemporary monologue OR you may read a selection (memorization not required) from the script. Callbacks are by invitation and will be held on Saturday afternoon September 21st and/or Sunday evening September 22nd. They will include reading and singing from the script as well as improvisation. There will be 5-6 weeks of staging and development rehearsals starting in early to mid-April of 2025 as well as some possible private music rehearsals in the preceding months. Rehearsals will be selected based on the availability of the cast on weekday evenings as well as weekend mornings, afternoons, or evenings 4-5 times per week. See the document attached for details. If interested, please apply.
7 roles
(Tenor C3-B4) An athletic, social, boy scout and champion of the Twenty-Fourth Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, he returns to defend his title, but he finds puberty hitting at an inopportune moment. He also plays Jesus Christ, a deity invoked by a speller in need.
(Alto / Belter A3-F5) is the youngest and most politically aware speller, often making comments about current political figures. She is driven by internal and external pressure, but above all by a desire to win to make her two fathers proud. She is somewhat of a neat freak, speaks with a lisp, and will be back next year.
(Tenor A2-A4) The second runner-up in his district, Leaf gets into the competition on a lark and finds everything about the bee incredibly amusing. He is home-schooled and comes from a large family of former hippies. He has severe Attention Deficit Disorder and spells words correctly while in a trance. He also plays Schwarzy’s intense and competitive Dad Carl, who is her main trainer.
(Tenor E2-B4) A Putnam County Spelling Bee finalist last year, he was eliminated because of an allergic reaction to peanuts and is back for vindication. His famous "Magic Foot" method of spelling has boosted him to spelling glory, even though he only has one working nostril and a touchy, bullying personality. He develops a crush on Olive.
(Soprano / Belter C4-E5) The ultimate overachiever, Marcy has never been given another option. She comes from a family where excellence is expected and so simply produced. A parochial school student, she assumes God, too, expects perfection. She sees herself as a mass of problems but she keeps them to herself. Having moved often because of her parents' work, she knows she can beat the local competition. Her talents include piano, dance, martial arts, baton twirling, etc.
(Soprano / High Mix-Belter B3-F5) A young newcomer to competitive spelling. Her mother is in an ashram in India, and her father is working late, as usual, but he is trying to come sometime during the bee. Having found comfort in its words and vastness, Olive made friends with her dictionary at a very young age, helping her to make it to the competition. She starts enormously shy, and shyly blossoms.
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