photo: Patrick McArdle
Does Tucson need to brush up on its collective spelling skills?
Between Karen Greene’s adult spelling bees at Sky Bar every second Tuesday of the month and Arizona Onstage Productions’ (AOP) presentation of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” it kind of feels like it.
With AOP, which has proven its summer shows are more than worth the price of admission, it is bringing on a Tony Award winning hit that promises to be a rip-roaring good time.
Artistic Director Kevin Johnson and guest Director/Choreographer Robert Russo, Jr. describe the six adolescent characters, played by adults, as quirky smarty-pants with personal issues and unique methods of working out the words. Initially, the kids are presented as caricatures representing various stereotypes of marginalized overachievers. Ultimately, they evolve in significant ways. Johnson and Russo advise keeping an eye on William Barfee.
A large element of the musical is improvisation, which includes incorporating willing theatre patrons into the show. Even super talented spellers will be comedically eliminated no matter what. For a sampling of the humor, check out SpellingBeeTheGame.com.
The Temple of Music and Art’s Cabaret Theatre, 330 S. Scott Ave., shall provide an intimate setting that “treats the audience members as if they were really at a spelling bee with the actors singling various people out to be part of their fictional family,” Johnson says.
Performances take place August 12-August 29. An R-rated version benefiting Literacy Volunteers of Tucson will be performed on August 22 at 7:30 p.m. Visit ArizonaOnStage.org for the complete schedule and prices or call 882-6574.
