In Photos: ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’
By Sarah G. Erickson, Crimson Staff WriterThe Harvard-Radcliffe Dramatic Club’s production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" ran in the Loeb Experimental Theater from Feb. 29 to March 8.
The musical is set in the town of Putnam County, where middle schoolers are set to compete in one of the most memorable events of the year: the spelling bee.
Rona Lisa Peretti, played by Caitlin Beirne ’25, is a top real estate agent and co-announcer of the spelling competition. Above, she sings to announce each student competing. In the center is Logainne Schwarzandgrubeniere, played by Finley McElhinney ’27. On her left stands Chip Tolentino, played by Elio R. Kennedy-Yoon ’25.
As Rona Lisa announces each student, the audience learns more about each character’s motivation to win the spelling bee. With song, dance, and lots of laughs along the way, the musical keeps the audience and participants engaged.
From left to right: Roseanne O. Stategos ’25, Finley McElhinney ’27, and David J. Peters ’25 play participants in the spelling bee who have just received their contestant numbers.
Vice principal Douglas Panch, played by Max B. Allison ’25, and Rona Lisa commentate throughout the spelling bee. While some jokes are scripted, actors also improvised to make each show uniquely humorous.
All six participants in the spelling bee begin the competition by singing about their life stories and motivations to win the bee.
Marcy Park, played by Amelia C. Williams ’27, sings about how her family expects her to be the perfect student – including spelling each word at the bee correctly.
From breaking the third wall to kicklines and dancing on tables, the actors’ dynamic performance kept the audience on their toes.
After Mitch Mahoney (center), played by Madison E. Valley ’25, misspells a word, the spelling bee’s “comfort counselor” hands out a juice box and sings to each participant to console them.
William Barfée, played by Justice L. Sirotek ’27, wins the bee. To celebrate and commemorate this special moment, Rona Lisa presents him with a trophy.
An energetic curtain call concludes the performance, an undoubtedly memorable one for both audience and cast members.