Casting Call: 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'

Ever wanted to enter a spelling bee? Well, now's your chance — sort of. Playhouse 22 will hold auditions for "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" in a couple of weeks.

Six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser. "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" is a hilarious tale of overachievers' angst, chronicling the experience of six adolescent outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. The show's Tony Award-winning creative team has created the unlikeliest of hit musicals about the unlikeliest of heroes, a quirky yet charming cast of outsiders for whom a spelling bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time.

Auditionees should prepare no more than 32 bars of a Broadway show with sheet music. Songs from the show are acceptable. A capella is not permitted. Auditionees should also dress comfortably as dancing is expected.

Chip Tolentino (C4-B5)	An athletic, social, boy scout and champion of the Twenty-Fourth Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, he returns to defend his title, but he finds puberty hitting at an inopportune moment. Also plays Jesus.
Logainne Schwartzandgrunenierre (A3-F5)	(Schwartzy) Logainne is the youngest and most politically aware speller, often making comments about current political figures. She is driven by internal and external pressure, but above all by a desire to win to make her two fathers proud. She is somewhat of a neat freak, speaks with a lisp, and will be back next year.
Leaf Coneybear (A3-A5)	The second runner-up in his district, Leaf gets into the competition on a lark and finds everything about the bee incredibly amusing. He is home-schooled and comes from a large family of former hippies. He has severe Attention Deficit Disorder and spells words correctly while in a trance. Also plays Carl Dad.
William Barfee (E4-B5)	A Putnam County Spelling Bee finalist last year, he was eliminated because of an allergic reaction to peanuts and is back for vindication. His famous "Magic Foot" method of spelling has boosted him to spelling glory, even though he only has one working nostril and a touchy, bullying personality. He develops a crush on Olive.
Marcy Park (C4-E5)	A recent transfer from Virginia, Marcy placed ninth in last year's nationals. She speaks six languages, is a member of all-American hockey, a championship rugby player, plays Chopin and Mozart on multiple instruments, sleeps only three hours a night, hides in the bathroom cabinet, and is getting very tired of always winning. She is the poster child for the Over-Achieving Asian, and attends a Catholic school called "Our Lady of Intermittent Sorrows." She is also not allowed to cry. Gymnastics ability preferred.
Olive Ostrovsky (B3-F5)	A young newcomer to competitive spelling. Her mother is in an ashram in India, and her father is working late, as usual, but he is trying to come sometime during the Bee. Having found comfort in its words and vastness, Olive made friends with her dictionary at a very young age, helping her to make it to the competition. She starts enormously shy, and shyly blossoms.
Rona Lisa Peretti (B3-F5)	The number one realtor in Putnam County, a former Putnam County Spelling Bee Champion herself, and the returning moderator. She is a sweet woman who loves children, but can be very stern when it comes to dealing with Vice Principal Panch and his feelings for her. Her interest in the competition is unflagging and drives it forward. Also plays Olive's mom.
Douglas Panch (non-singing)	The vice principal. Frustrated with his life, he finds the drive of the young spellers alien to him. After five years' absence from the Bee, Panch returns as judge. There was an "incident" at the Twentieth Annual Bee, but he claims to be in "a better place" now, thanks to a high-fiber diet and Jungian analysis. He is infatuated with Rona Lisa Peretti, but she does not return his affections. Looking for good improv ability.
Mitch Mahoney (E4-A5)	The Official Comfort Counselor. An ex-convict, Mitch is performing his community service with the Bee, and hands out juice boxes to losing students. He has no idea how to offer comfort, but does find himself wishing he could find a way to make the kids feel better. Also plays Olive's father, Dan Dad.

Auditions will be held at 7:30 p.m. December 14 and 15, with callbacks at the same time December 17. Appointments may be made online; those who do not schedule appointments will be seen, when time permits, on a first-come, first-serve basis. The show will run at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays February 6-21.

For more information, contact spellingbee@playhouse22.org or call (732)254-3939. Playhouse 22 is located at 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.