The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Randy Haldeman, Director
Auditions for this show are a fun and exciting way to meet new people and become involved in the Highland performing arts community. This guide is intended to provide you with important information to help you be your most successful at the audition.
Prior to Auditions
Here is a link to a page that will let you know what the show is about:
Dress and Appearance
This is like a job interview (kinda), so dress nicely.
- Select clothing that reinforces your confidence. It should be flattering and comfortable.
- Avoid bulky, loose clothing that might interfere with your movement and mask your physicality. Also avoid tight clothing which will limit your movement.
- Wear comfortable, lightweight shoes rather than boots or athletic shoes.
- Your hair should be held back away from your face.
Audition Day
You will be asked to complete an audition form that includes past stage experience and your schedule. During your audition, the directors will be considering you in the context of the play being cast — make the best first impression you can. The director will be listening to your vocal quality, assessing your stage presence and projection, and observing your movement. Be prepared to answer questions from the director.
In small groups, you are going to cycle through rounds of Acting/Readings, Movement, Music Rehearsal, and Singing.
Acting/Readings – Limited to 60-90 seconds.
Actors are encouraged to use a short, prepared monologue. Alternatively, you may bring a rehearsed reading. Auditionees without a monologue will be provided with excerpts from the show and given the opportunity to prepare briefly before their cold reading. Afterwards, you may be asked to read for several different characters; being ask to read a certain character is not any indication of which role you may be cast in.
Movement
The choreographer will teach to you a short dance routine, and then observe you. Don’t worry, we know that not everyone has a dance background, but all auditionees will be expected to just make their best effort. We can certainly work with people who are not strong dancers, and people with limited mobility will be accommodated.
Music Rehearsal
Actors may bring their own music (again, limited to 60-90 seconds), provided they bring sheet music for the pianist. Otherwise, they may prepare a couple of the excerpts from the show. The music is linked below.
In either case, each auditionee should have an up-tempo piece and a contrasting piece ready to present; it does not need to be for the character you’re auditioning! You may be stopped while singing, it never means anything bad at all – we just have a very limited time to hear everyone.
Pre-recorded music is not allowed, nor is just singing something a cappella – part of what we are listening for is your ability to sing with a live accompaniment.
Singing
Auditionees will step up to the piano when called and sing the music they rehearsed earlier. Sometimes, the music director will ask to hear a contrasting piece, oftentimes, not. Once again, it does not mean anything bad (or good) if you are asked (or not asked) to sing a second selection, it just means the MD already has a good understanding of your voice.
General notes
The entire experience will last about 2.5 hours, but you may not be performing that whole time. Auditioning is very hard work for the actors and the directors, and we absolutely want to see you at your best – we are so rooting for you!
If you are not cast, please consider the number of factors that led to the director’s decision. Everyone who has ever auditioned, including your directors, knows very well the anxiety of auditioning and the pain of not being cast. In an academic environment such as Highland, most directors are willing to discuss their casting decisions with you, but please make an appointment to discuss it with them.
Thank you so much for your interest, and good luck!
Randy Haldeman, Director
Cast
- Chip Tolentino
- 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.
- Logainne Schwartzandgrubeniere (Schwartzy)
- 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.
- Leaf Coneybear
- 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.
- William Barfee
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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.
- Douglas Panch
- The Vice Principal. 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
- 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.
- Other Cast:
- Carl Dad
- Schwarzy’s main trainer, the more intense and competitive of Schwarzy’s fathers. Normally played by actor playing Leaf.
- Dan Dad
- the more laid back and ineffectual of Schwarzy’s fathers. Normally played by the actor playing Mitch.
- Jesus Christ
- Deity invoked by a speller in need. Normally played by the actor playing Chip.
- Leaf’s Mom, Dad, And Siblings
- All more academically gifted than Leaf, they are even more surprised than he is by his success. Normally played by the spellers and audience volunteers as indicated in the script.
- Olive’s Dad
- A fantasy version of Olive’s dad coming to the bee from work. Normally played by the actor playing Mitch.
- Olive’s Mom
- A fantasy version of Olive’s mom at her Ashram in India. Normally played by the actor playing Rona.
Scripts
TBD