Performances will run Friday through April 28 at the Ludlow theater.
Logainne Schwarzandgrubenierre (played by Kyle Boatwright), center, receives some last-minute spelling coaching from her two dads (played by Steven Grabowski, left, and Michael Garcia, right) in the Exit 7 Players production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee."Spell “hilarious.”
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The Exit 7 Players in Ludlow will present a spring musical, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” a tale of overachievers’ angst chronicling the experience of six adolescent outsiders – played by adults – vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime.
Performances will run Friday through April 28 at Exit 7 Theater.
According to general publicity, the show features characters for whom a spelling bee is “the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time. The six are in the throes of puberty and overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves. During their spelling bee journey, they learn that winning isn’t everything and that losing doesn’t necessarily make you a loser.”
The cast of nine actors comes from Western Massachusetts and are, according to director Thomas D. LeCourt, “a very talented cast, fun to work with.” They’ve taken their characters and made them their own, he added.
This is LeCourt’s first time directing for Exit 7 Players; two years ago he acted in the group’s production of “Titanic,” playing John Thayer, a first-class passenger.
This show has music and lyrics by William Finn; the book is by Rachel Sheinkin.
“It’s one of the most musically talented casts and pit bands I’ve worked with in my 35 years conducting community theater,” said George Garber Jr., music director for the show. “‘Putnam County’ is very challenging musically, and this group is up to the task, in most cases exceeding the high bars set by the show itself and production team.”
LeCourt said the music is “kind of a popular-type score” mostly expressing the struggles the “kids’” experience.
“The show has got so much heart. That’s what drew me to it,” LeCourt said. “The characters are so identifiable. You find something of yourself in each. You relate to them.”
He said the show will “tug at your heart strings, make you laugh, make you cry.”
Characters in the play put pressure on themselves to win, but only one can be the winner.
“As the contestants get eliminated, they realize it’s not the end of the world. Life goes on,” LeCourt said.
During each performance, cast members will recruit audience members to become contestants on stage, so every show will be different.
“It makes the show slightly improvisational in nature,” LeCourt said. “The cast has to be on their feet, and they are.”
The show is rated PG-13 for mature language and subject matter.
“It’s not vulgar, just not something you’d want to bring little kids to,” LeCourt said.