Following the enormous success of last year’s “The Addams Family Musical: Quarantine Edition”, Catskill’s Bridge Street Theatre has made the decision to turn their Summer Youth Musical an annual event! This year’s production, featuring an all-student cast and slated for a two-weekend run August 4-14, will be the Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”.
With a book by Rachel Sheinkin and music and lyrics by William Finn, “Spelling Bee” tells the story of an eclectic group of sixth-graders engaged in the most cut-throat competition of their young lifetimes. These hapless tweens attempt to spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping against hope not to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals the fact that they’ve made a competition-ending mistake, all while sharing hilarious and touching stories of their extremely complicated personal lives. Six finalists enter – only one can come out on top! But which one will it be? A riotous roller coaster of a show (complete with audience participation!), “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleasing comic delight!
This quirky musical romp is piloted by Catskill High School stalwarts Michelle Storrs-Ryan (stage and musical director) and Marcus McGregor (choreographer), with design work by BST regulars John Sowle (sets and lights) and Michelle Rogers (costumes). Featured in the cast (comprised entirely of local High School and Middle School students and a few recent alumni) are Magnus Bush, Meeghan Darling, Micah Doig, Libby DuBois, Lilly Gallagher, Michael Keck, Raven Lynch, Tegan Morehead, Molly Osswald, Nate Storrs, Andrew Tran, and Paul Truncale. Production Stage Manager is Kiera Vedovino.
Performances of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” will take place Thursdays – Sundays, August 4-14, 2022, on Bridge Street Theatre’s “Priscilla” Mainstage, located at 44 West Bridge Street in the Village of Catskill. Eight performances only. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday performances are at 7:30pm, with Sunday matinees at 2:00pm. Thursday, August 4 and Sunday, August 7 are “Pay-What-You-Will” performances. Admission at the door is $25, Students and Children ages 18 and under are only $10. Discounted advance tickets (highly recommended) are available for $22/$10 (+ a small service fee) at bridgest.org/spelling-tickets/.
For the safety of the performers and all attendees, Bridge Street Theatre encourages patrons to remain masked during the performance. For details on BST’s current safety precautions, check the theatre’s website at bridgest.org/covid-safety-rules-at-bst/. And for more info about the show, visit bridgest.org/spelling-bee/.
Performance Calendar:
Bridge Street Theatre presents its 2022 Summer Youth Musical
THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Music and Lyrics by William Finn / Book by Rachel Sheinkin
Conceived by Rebecca Feldman / Additional Material by Joy Reiss
Originally Directed on Broadway by James Lapine
with Magnus Bush, Meeghan Darling, Micah Doig, Libby DuBois, Lilly Gallagher, Michael Keck, Raven Lynch, Tegan Morehead, Molly Osswald, Nate Storrs, Andrew Tran, and Paul Truncale
Staging and Musical Direction by Michelle Storrs-Ryan
Choreography by Marcus McGregor
Set and Lighting Design by John Sowle
Costumes by Michelle Rogers
Production Stage Manager: Kiera Vedovino
August 4 – 14, 2022
Bridge Street Theatre’s “Priscilla” Mainstage
44 West Bridge Street, Catskill, NY
Thursday August 4 @ 7:30pm (“Pay What You Will” preview)
Friday August 5 @ 7:30pm (Opening Night)
Saturday August 6 @ 7:30pm
Sunday August 7 @ 2:00pm (“Pay What You Will” performance)
Thursday August 11 @ 7:30pm
Friday August 12 @ 7:30pm
Saturday August 13 @ 7:30pm
Sunday August 14 @ 2:00pm (Closing performance)
Tickets:
Advance tickets available at bridgest.org/spelling-tickets/
General Admission $22, $10 for Students and Children ages 18 and under
Tickets can also be purchased at the door prior to each performance (on a space available basis) for $25, $10 for Students and Children ages 18 & under.
Note: Many of the show’s characters are coping with typical pubescent issues and some material may not be suitable for children under the age of 12. Parental discretion is advised.
Financial assistance for production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” has been provided by Price Chopper’s Golub Foundation and a Walmart Community Grant.
Events at Bridge Street Theatre are supported in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor of New York and the New York State Legislature and by Public Funds from the Greene County Legislature through the Cultural Fund administered in Greene County by the CREATE Council on the Arts.
