Read about the upcoming performance in the Register Pajaronian

Watsonville High School Drama Presents…

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Buy tickets for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Watsonville High School Drama is working hard at after-school rehearsals preparing the H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S Broadway musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee coming to the Mello Center, April 17-28. This Tony Award-winning musical is the jubilant and touching story of a group of prepubescent overachievers who are pitted against one another in the spelling challenge of a lifetime. The New York Times raved that “Spelling Bee” is “irresistible, riotously funny and remarkably ingenious – gold stars all around!”

Spelling Bee centers on a fictional spelling bee set in the gymnasium of geographically ambiguous Putnam Valley Middle School. Six quirky adolescents compete in the Bee, run by three equally-quirky grown-ups. Unique to Spelling Bee is that four audience volunteers are chosen nightly through a pre-show interview process to be participants in the spelling bee, making each performance an adventure. With infectious songs and whip-smart lyrics, these compelling kids learn that winning isn’t everything and that losing doesn’t necessarily make you a loser.

Created through a workshop process, Spelling Bee opened Off Broadway where it became an instant success thanks to universal rave reviews and incredible buzz. The show eventually moved to Broadway where it ran for three years. Nominated for six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, it won two Tonys, including Best Book of a Musical.

Spelling Bee will be directed by Watsonville High School drama teacher David Scott, marking his twenty-fourth mainstage production as the director of WHS Drama.  David is joined by former Aptos High School choir director and teacher Meri Pezzoni, who will help the cast as vocal director. David and Meri have been working together on musicals since David was a student at Aptos High.  Mr. Scott credits Mrs. Pezzoni as one of his earliest mentors and is honored to be working together today.

The cast includes a top notch line-up of Watsonville High School talent that includes Sophia Elizalde (Rona Lisa Perretti), David Calderon (Chip Tolentino), Helen Benavidez (Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre), Jorge Ortiz (Leaf Coneybear), Anthony Flores (William Barfee), Celeste Medina-Seymoure (Marcy Park), Jacqueline Ortiz (Olive Ostrovsky),  Bowen Hayes (Vice Principal Panch) and David Scott (Mitch Mahoney.)

Mr. Scott and his Theater Arts classes will create the school gymnasium set where the spelling bee takes place and Pat Edwards will design the lighting. Celeste Medina-Seymoure is sweating the choreography, Danielle McMines is designing the costumes, and Karla Avila is cracking the whip as stage manager.

Please consider supporting the young artists in our community by attending one of our performances. Drama at Watsonville High School always depends on ticket sales to provide the money needed to launch the next production.  Show your support and join us for fun and excitement at the theater!

All performances will be held in the Henry J. Mello Center for the Performing Arts.  Tickets will be sold at the door thirty minutes before curtain. Ticket prices are $7 for students, seniors, and educators. $10 for General Admission.  Thanks to the support of our California Partnership Academies, Watsonville High School students may attend the play free of charge. Tickets may also be purchased online: Buy tickets for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

WHS Drama Presents…

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Twelve Performances!!!

Wed, April 17, 2pm Opening Day

Th, April 18, 3rd period show and 7pm show

Fri, April 19, 7pm show

Sat, April 20, 7pm show

Tues, April 23, 4th period show

Wed, April 24, 2pm show

Thursday, April 25, 4pm show and 7pm show

Friday, April 26, 4pm show and 7pm show

Sunday, April 28, 2pm closing matinee

Buy tickets for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

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