The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Synopsis
A junior high school gym is set up to host the county spelling finals. Winners from local elementary and middle schools begin to arrive and check in with the bee's long-time hostess—and Former champion—Rona Lisa Pereti. Audience volunteers are also welcomed to the stage. Speller Olive Ostrovsky does not have her entrance Fee, and she hopes her father will get there soon to straighten it out. Vice Principal Douglas Panch of Lake Hemingway-Dos Passos Junior High is announced as the day's word pronouncer - he's a last-minute substitute for an ailing superintendent. The rules are explained. When a speller misses a word, a bell will ring - ding - and the speller must immediately leave the stage, escorted by the bee's comfort counselor, Mitch Mahoney.
My Role: Assistant Stage Manager/ Sound Board Operator
For this production, I had the opportunity to step into a new role as an assistant stage manager- an area I was familiar with in theory, but had never experienced first hand. Being trusted in the position was an important step forward in my growth in technical theater. I contributed by helping troubleshoot issues, setting up the rehearsal space, running dance calls, and supporting the team in many other essential ways.
As my first musical, running microphones was both a challenging and valuable learning experiences. While I had worked with mics on previous productions, this was my first time managing them to the full extent required by a musical. The double-cast nature of the show added another layer of complexity requiring tracking of who was performing each night, adjusting levels accordingly, and ensuring everything was set for a smooth performance.
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