Oct. 27, 2010
Contact Dana McConnell at 608-796-3766 or dlmcconnell@viterbo.edu
VITERBO UNIVERSITY TO PRESENT THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE NOV. 12–13, NOV. 18–21
LA CROSSE, Wis. – Viterbo University will present the Tony Award-winning play The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Friday, Nov. 12 and Saturday, Nov. 13, and Thursday, Nov. 18–Sunday, Nov 21 in the Fine Arts Center Black Box Theatre.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a musical comedy about the angst of overachievers. Six contestants in the throes of puberty vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime in a contest run by three quirky adults who have barely escaped childhood themselves. The show centers around a fictional spelling bee in geographically ambiguous Putnam Valleiterbo y Middle School.
“Audiences will find the show really funny and engaging,” said Dana McConnell, Viterbo theatre department faculty who is directing the play.
Audience participation will add to the humor, as pre-screened volunteers are called on stage to spell. At each performance, audience members who are interested in participating in the show will be asked to fill out a questionnaire and four will be selected to join the bee. The play features delightful songs and sparkling lyrics. It contains mature language.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was conceived by Rebecca Feldman, with music and lyrics by William Finn. It was performed on Broadway in 2005 and was nominated for six Tony Awards, winning two.
Performance times are 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12–13 and Nov. 18–19. Two performances will be held Nov. 20, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The Nov. 21 performance will be at 2 p.m. For ticket information, contact the Viterbo box office at 608-796-3100 or boxoffice@viterbo.edu.
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