Photos / Lorenzo Corro, provided by The Sandbox Collective
There’s a new musical to watch out for, and this one is an interactive comedy!
It’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, to be staged by The Sandbox Collective in partnership with ABS-CBN, Star Magic, and Teatro Kapamilya.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee follows an eclectic group of six kids who join a spelling championship.
According to Music Theatre International, “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 a champion! At least the losers get a juice box.”
Since the musical was staged on Broadway in 2005, it has won the Tony and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book.
A fun part of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is the involvement of “guest spellers.” In every show, four audience members will join the cast onstage as fellow bee contestants. This contributes to the immersive nature of the production, making each show truly unique.
The cast will feature Star Magic talents AC Bonifacio and Shanaia Gomez in the role of Marcy Park, and Krystal Brimner and Angela Ken in the role of Olive Ostrovsky. Becca Coates and Justine Narciso will share the role of Loggaine SchwartzAndGrubennierre, and alternating in the role of Chip Tolentino will be Diego Aranda and Luis Marcelo.
Photo / The Sandbox Collective
Rounding out the spelling bee contestants will be Joshy Ramirez and Ron Balgos in the role of William Barfée, and Elian Dominguez and Shaun Ocrisma in the role of Leaf Coneybear.
The show will also feature theater veterans as Spelling Bee’s adult characters: Audie Gemora and Robbie Guevara as Vice Principal Douglas Panch, Nyoy Volante and Jordan Andrews (in certain performances) as Mitch Mahoney, and Liesl Batucan-Del Rosario as Rona Lisa Peretti.
Helming the production as director is renowned actress, educator, and current president of the Philippine Theater Actors Guild Missy Maramara. Joining her is SPIT Manila founding member and theater actor Dingdong Rosales, and the directorial duo plans to weave their improv backgrounds into their directing approach.
TOYM and Walt Disney Legacy awardee Rony Fortich, the founding musical director of Hong Kong Disneyland, will bring William Finn’s score to life as the show’s musical director. Completing the artistic team will be Franco Ramos as choreographer, Tata Tuviera as production designer, D Cortezano as lighting designer and technical director, Aji Manalo as sound designer, and Joyce Garcia as video designer.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee runs from February 24 to March 17, 2024, at the PowerMac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater, Circuit Makati.
Tickets are out now via Ticket2Me at bit.ly/spellsandbox2024.
What do you think? Share your thoughts below!
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