The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
by Rachel Sheinkin & William Finn

(may 2025, with yale dramatic association)

“Before the first day of rehearsal, I asked the actors for photos of themselves as children. When they came in, we had printed them out as name tags. At the start of our read-through, I asked them to look at the person on their name tag and dedicate their performance to them.

Spelling Bee reminds me of a quote from the author’s note of one of my favorite plays, Dance Nation. “Cuteness is death. Pagan feral-ness and ferocity are key.” That’s what it’s like to be ten.

I love these kids because they really want something. I was like that too when I was ten. I only competed in one spelling bee, but I also competed in poetry contests and play competitions and multiplication olympics and even, once, a youth triathlon. I see myself in the kids’ deep wants — to win, to be good at spelling, to be celebrated. But Spelling Bee asks what to do when those things aren’t things you can have. Who is the person that is left over?

In making Spelling Bee a tribute to our past selves, I hope you can all see the joy in reconnecting with that sense of unapologetic big-ness. This 600-seat theater has been a huge oppirtunity and an even bigger learning experience. The great gift of this show, for me, for the people on stage, and even for the people behind the scenes, has been to rediscover what it means to make a big swing and how to miss. It’s all in who you surround yourself with.”

- From Spelling Bee director’s note

Cast

Olive / Olivia Ridley
Marcy / Tess Romero
Schwarzy / Hannah Kurczeski
Barfée / Abram Knott
Chip / Crawford Arnow
Leaf / Malcolm Grant
Rona Lisa Peretti / Nneka Moweta
Vice Principal Panch / Jordan Mincy
Mitch Mahoney / Isabella Walther-Meade
Carl Dad / Alastair Rao
Dan Dad / Chad Bowling
Jesus / Sadie Pohl
Olive’s Mom / Casia Provencal
Olive’s Dad / Lucas Oland

Production Team
Director / Emiliano Cáceres Manzano
Producer / Rhayna Poulin
Stage Manager / Rena Kawasaki
Music Director / Lyndon Chen
Music Director / Jairus Rhoades
Choreographer / Amara Neal
Choreographer / Thomas Kannam
Set Designer / Alexa Druyanoff
Technical Director / Maya Molina
Technical Director / Remi Clark-Redstar
Lighting Designer / Allison Calkins
Head Electrician / Owen Pinhasi
Costume Designer / Emily Currie
Hair & Makeup Designer / Tybee Feiler
Hair & Makeup Designer / Aabi Whyte-Spence
Props Designer / Talia Hsia
Props Designer / Nico Maynulet
Sound Designer / Dorothy Ha
Sound Engineer / Sophia Williams
Dramaturg / Will Sussbauer
Graphic Designer / Sude Ulu
Photography / Elora Sparnicht

Emiliano Cáceres Manzano Stage Director.

Emiliano Cáceres Manzano
Stage Director.