The cast and menu for the upcoming Winfield production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” has been announced by director Allyson Moon and musical director Matt Berthot.

“Something that makes this musical unique, when compared to other contemporary musicals, is the script’s improvisational moments and audience participation,” Moon says.

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” will be presented as a dinner theatre with the cast serving an All-American fried chicken dinner of champions before the show.

Performances are scheduled for Friday, June 22, and Saturday, June 23, with a 6 p.m. dinner and 7:30 p.m. show, and Sunday, June 24, with a 12:30 p.m. lunch and 2 p.m. show. Ticket prices for dinner and show are $25 for adults, $23 for senior citizens, $20 for students, and $18 for youth.  Show-only tickets are $10 for adults and senior citizens, and $5 for students and youth.

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” follows the experience of six young overachievers, competing for the spelling championship of a lifetime. They are overseen by Rona Peretti (Julia Faust) who is a former spelling champion herself, and vice principal Panch (Aron Pfingsten) who has recently returned from a five-year hiatus after an “incident.” The adolescents sing their way through the trials and tribulations of the spelling bee. Leaf Coneybear (Carter Humphreys) tells about the embarrassment of being dumb in “I’m Not That Smart.” Another funny moment, according to Moon, occurs when Logainne Schwarzandgrubenniere (Lenita Krejci) reveals just how badly she wants to win in “Woe Is Me.”

“Every competitor has a moment in the spotlight throughout the bee,” Moon says.  “Ultimately the six young people, and maybe the adults as well, learn that winning isn’t everything and losing doesn’t necessarily make you a loser. After all, losing hurts less when Mitch Mahoney (David Cantu), the recently paroled ‘comfort counselor,’ is there to give you a juice box and a hug.”

Other roles include William Barfee (Matt Berthot), Olive Ostrovsky (Alessandra Bevilacqua), Marcy Park (Lauren Kohpay), Chip Tolentino (Ehen Hartung), Coneybear’s mom (Meredith Chavers), Coneybear’s sister (Lisa Prater), and Wrangler (Payton Humphreys).

The meal will be served in the upper level of the Roy L. Smith Student Center.  The production will be performed in Messenger Recital Hall in the Darbeth Fine Arts Center.
For tickets or more information, call the Southwestern College box office at (620) 221-7720 or (620) 229-6171. Information is also available on the Southwestern theatre webpage, www.sckans.edu/theatre.