'Putnam County Spelling Bee' Opens This Weekend in Alameda

From an Alameda Children's Musical Theatre press release:

Now in its 30th year of producing quality children's theatre,  Alameda Children's Musical Theatre (ACMT), www.acmtkids.org, is proud to present The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. This fun and quirky musical comedy chronicles the experience of adolescent outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. 

With its ingenious plot and punchy, high-spirited score, the musical won two Tony awards in 2005. The eccentric yet charming personalities, along with the comedic set-ups featuring words, their definitions and their use in sentences, grabs you from the start and keeps you laughing and cheering for your favorite character to win the Bee. For adults, the show will take you back to junior-high and the angst of being a young teenager under pressure to “perform,” be it competing in a spelling bee, playing sports in a tournament, or sweating through a Beethoven sonata in a piano recital.

The cast features six awkward kids in the throes of puberty, three adults running the spelling bee (with their sometimes immature behavior you might be asking yourselves if they're really the kids), and a number of other spellers and parents. The musical score includes such unforgettable numbers as Leaf Coneybear singing his anthem “I'm Not That Smart,” William Barfée's hilarious “Magic Foot,” describing how he spells his word out on the ground with his foot to get a visual before speaking it, and “Pandemonium," a musical rant sung by the whole cast. 

“I'm thrilled to join ACMT and bring professional theater training and unique performance opportunities to the community,” said Lauren Rosi, director of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. “This family-friendly, energetic production is a perfect mix of entertainment for both kids and adults.”

Director:  Lauren Rosi
Musical Director:  Matt Wolka

Show location: Maya Lin School, 825 Taylor Ave. (Please don't call Maya Lin School directly; contact ACMT with questions.)

Performance schedule (6 shows):

Friday, November 8, 7:30 pm
Saturday, November 9, 7:30 pm
Friday, November 15, 7:30 pm
Saturday, November 16, 7:30 pm

Sunday, November 10, 2:00 pm matinee
Sunday, November 17, 2:00 pm matinee

Tickets: $13 Adults; $7 Youths under 18, Seniors & Military. Group discounts available.

To reserve tickets, please visit the ACMT website at www.acmtkids.org.

About Alameda Children's Musical Theater:

Alameda Children's Musical Theatre was founded in 1983. Since that time, ACMT has continued to provide the finest live theatre experience for children performed by children.  

Performing casts are a mix of children, ages 7 to 17, and occasionally adults in supporting roles.

Young people have the opportunity to work with talented directors, choreographers and musicians, as well as the chance to be on stage.  The older, experienced children also handle the technical aspects of performances, including make-up, lighting, sound, and stage management.

ACMT is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization. Family members and other volunteers graciously assist behind the scenes constructing and painting sets, making props and sewing costumes, giving everyone a chance to become a "part of the magic."