Foothill Music Theater is set to bring a dose of quirky, high-stakes competition to the stage with its upcoming production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” The musical opens Feb. 27 and runs through March 15 in Los Altos Hills.
The show follows an eclectic group of six kids competing for a spelling championship while sharing hilarious and touching stories from their lives, according to director Milissa Carey.
Carey, who has been directing at Foothill since 2011, noted that William Finn’s musical is not “just a cute, fun show; it turns out the score is pretty sophisticated.”
Another standout feature of the production is the inclusion of four audience volunteers at every performance who compete alongside the actors. The element of improvisation adds a layer of unpredictability and fun for both the cast and the viewers, according to actor Andrew Cope.
Carey said the show grew out of an improv play in New York that was developed into a full musical that hit Broadway in 2005. There is no intermission in the 100-minute show, in which almost all of the cast remains on stage for the entirety.
That includes Mackenzie Macdonald, who plays Olive Ostrovsky. She described her character as a “nerdy, innocent, kind” girl who finds solace in her dictionary.
“Olive is such a cute little nerdy, innocent, kind character,” Macdonald said. “Just knowing that I am going to embody her and get to play such an amazing soul, I was over the moon.”
To prepare for the role, Macdonald said she writes down her character’s history and actions to better understand her personality, such as why Olive would take the bus alone to the spelling bee.
Cope plays Leaf Coneybear, a free-spirited character who makes his own clothes. Cope, a veteran performer who has worked throughout the Bay Area, said the most challenging part of the role is maintaining the high energy required for the performance.
“It’s a very high-energy role for me, and so it has taken a lot to keep the energy up throughout the whole process,” Cope said.
Carey hopes audience members leave with a smile.
“I always want people to leave full of whatever the experience of the show was, and this one is designed to be a fun, funny, heartfelt evening of theater,” Carey said.
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” runs through March 15 at the Lohman Theater at Foothill College, 12345 S. El Monte Road. Showtimes are set for 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $22-$44.
For tickets and more information, visit foothill.edu/theatre/spelling-bee.html.
