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The Fair Grove High School Theater Department performed the musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” for audiences on April 25th-27th at 7:00pm in the Upper Elementary gym.
The musical was about the competition of the spelling bee as well as the lives of the various characters participating in it. High School Theater Director Leroy Barker said that throughout the play, the audience met characters that were pushed to excel and driven to win.
The musical also showed how the characters made friendships as they competed. According to Barker, “We got to see those characters connect and grow with one another during their competition at The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
Barker wanted the musical to remind audiences how it was like to be a teenager. “Since this show was about the way young people view the obstacles and goals in their lives, I would like the audience to be reminded of how those outside influences affect our young adults,” he said.
Playing Olive Ostrovsky in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Addison Zittle (12) got to portray a character different from what she normally would. “I normally play the dumb, funny characters but this year I was gifted with the opportunity to try something new. I was more of the sad, shy, quiet character which is so beautiful to get to experience and learn how to do,” said Zittle.
Zittle’s favorite part of the musical was working with the people involved. “I love getting to act and work with my classmates and friends to be able to put on something we are proud of. The jokes, the tears, the frustration, the laughter, and the beautiful memories we make are always something that I treasure.”
Zittle added that it was “incredible to get to play the role of Olive while one of my best friends [Nico Jeckins (12)] played Barfee. Nico is truly one of my favorite people and acting with them is the biggest blessing.”
The Theater Department tried to get everyone involved with production in some way. “Not everyone with a passion for theater will get to become an actor, but there are so many other jobs and skills around the profession that most can get involved,” said Barker. These other jobs include directing, stage crew, and more.
This play had a fairly small cast which allowed them to work together as a team. According to Barker, “Often, with larger casts, the group gets broken into more manageable units and the end product can look like it was pieced together. I feel that this group really provided a cohesive product that showcased their ability to work together.”
The next show is planned to be performed on November 14th-16th. Currently, the show has not been announced. The department plans to hold auditions just before school gets out so that cast members can look the script over during summer break. “We have found that casting early, and letting actors get familiar with the script before rehearsals begin, helps the rehearsal process to be more productive,” said Barker.
Zittle plans to earn a degree in theater education to become a teacher herself. According to her, the theater program at Fair Grove will always hold a special place in her heart. “I genuinely grew up on that stage and in the theater classroom, I have learned who I am, how to express my thoughts and ideas, how to create and build, how to play so many different kinds of characters and so much more,” she stated.
