The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with Twelfth Night Productions

Twelfth Night Productions

About the project and the company

Winner of the Tony and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee has charmed audiences across the country with its effortless wit and humor. Featuring a fast-paced, wildly funny and touching book by Rachel Sheinkin and a truly fresh and vibrant score by William Finn, this bee is one unforgettable experience.

An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie 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.

Location of Audition

TPS

Other details

Harry Turpin - Director
Mark Rabe - Music Director
Valerie Reid - Stage Manager

Show Dates:
April 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 and May 1, 2, 3

**Pay is not hourly and this is not a union production.**

Audition requirements

Please prepare 32 bars of a musical theatre song as well as a comedic monologue, no longer than 1.5 minutes. Accompanist will be provided. Please bring music in the correct key. Please have a second selection prepared. Please also be prepared to improvise a story. Scenario given in the room. Note: Not everyone will be asked to improvise. Bring your headshot and current resume with you to the auditions. Please also bring a list of conflicts with you to the auditions for the audition form.

Character breakdown / Project needs

Logainne Schwartzandgrubeniere (Schwartzy)

Alto G to Eb- Logainne 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.

Chip Tolentino

Tenor to B- 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. (Doubles as Jesus Christ)

Leaf Coneybear

Baritone to G- 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. (Doubles as Carl Dad)

William Barfee

Tenor to Bb- 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.

Marcy Park

Mezzo to Eb- The ultimate over-achiever, 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 many talents include piano, dance, martial arts, baton twirling, and/or whatever special gifts you can find in your casting pool.

Olive Ostrovsky

Mezzo A to high G- 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.

Rona Lisa Peretti

Mezzo up to A- The number-one realtor in Putnam County, a former Putnam County Spelling Bee Champion herself, and the returning moderator. She is a sweet woman who loves children, but she can be very stern when it comes to dealing with Vice Principal Panch and his feelings for her. Her interest in the competition is unflagging and drives it forward. (Also portrays Olive's Mom)

Douglas Panch

Very minimal singing- The Vice Principle. Frustrated with his life, he finds the drive of the young spellers alien to him. After five years' absence from the Bee, Panch returns as judge. There was an "incident" at the Twentieth Annual Bee, but he claims to be in "a better place" now, thanks to a high-fiber diet and Jungian analysis. He is infatuated with Rona Lisa Peretti, but she does not return his affections.

Mitch Mahoney

Baritone to A- The Official Comfort Counselor. An ex-convict, Mitch is performing his community service with the Bee, and hands out juice boxes to losing students. He has no idea how to offer comfort, but does find himself wishing he could find a way to make the kids feel better. (Also portrays Dan Dad, Olive's Dad)

Additional information

Preferred method of submission

Audition/Interview dates

Auditions December 3rd and 4th from 6:30pm-10:30pm

Pay type

Hourly

Audition location

Seattle Washington

Pay type

Travel Stipend of $50 Travel Stipend of $50

Callbacks or second audition/interview?

December 7th 10am-6pm (Will not need to be available the whole time

Submission instructions

Please send an email to book an audition slot

Union Requirements

Union

Equity Contract

Non-Union