By Marrissa Ballard | Co-Editor-in-Chief
Photo by Malysa Kettavong | Contributor
This weekend, Stagefright Theatre Company presented their first ever musical with “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” The show tells the story of six spellers with distinct personalities who compete for the title of champion all while navigating life’s problems, from puberty to making friends.
Before the lights went up on the yellow and blue bleachers, a lot of work went into putting on the club’s big musical. Lea Carpanzano, a junior communications major, began officially planning for the show in August. As the director, she handled putting a budget together to get the show funded as well as the blocking, costumes, and set design. This was her first time directing a full-length musical, and Carpanzano says that a long of things changed as rehearsals continued. “We struggled for a long time because it’s musically difficult and the characters are kind of strange,” Carpanzano says. “It’s a comedy, so you have to have the timing for jokes to land, and it’s very audience-participation heavy.”
Carpanzano’s words rang true just at the sign-in table before the show, where audience members were asked if they wanted to sign up to participate in the spelling bee. One number into the show, audience members were called up and had to spell words or even learn dance numbers on the fly, if they lasted long enough. This added an amazing energy to the show, as the line between improv and planned jokes was often blurred.
According to Carpanzano, the show was also very “malleable,” meaning that they could play with the script and include more topical humor. Several jokes referenced the current state of politics, from the 2016 election to mentions of President Trump’s proposed construction of a wall at the U.S. border. These jokes, while dealing with potentially sensitive subjects, always landed and made the show more relatable for the audience.
The comedy was expertly handled by an amazing ensemble cast, and each character had their own sense of humor and voice. A personal favorite was Leaf, played by Bradley Simpson, a positive young boy who wears a red cape and rides around on a Razor scooter. His playful personality was contrasted with Marcy, played by Jennifer Sutherland ’18, a serious and intelligent speller who sits stone-faced for the majority of the musical.
Also among the cast were sophomore Alexis Weiss, who plays a political young woman with two fathers and strong sense of ethics, and Jake Fernandes as William, a know-it-all who uses his “magic foot” to master any word. Freshman Henry Nickerson, as the flirtatious Chip who sails around the stage on wheelie sneakers, brought his act all the way into the audience with an amazing musical number called “Chip’s Lament.”
In addition to comedic moments, there were plenty of times where the show slowed down and gave an inside look at family struggles. Olive, played by freshman Olivia Carderelli, sings a beautiful song about wishing to connect with her father and mother. The best part about watching the show was easily getting to know each of the kids, and caring about them so much that learning about their lives and watching the eliminations was often sad or even heartbreaking.
The music in the show complimented both the humorous and serious moments. Bryce Sholtes, a freshman political science and music performance major, helped the cast learn the various musical numbers and harmonies. As music director, Sholtes enjoyed teaching music for a musical, especially with such a range of voices. “It’s definitely a unique challenge trying to get a good blend,” he says. “We have someone who sings more operatic, someone who’s clearly a pop singer, and someone who doesn’t really sing at all.” However, Sholtes notes that “The show really allows different voices to work together.”
Of course, the musical numbers are made even more grand with classic musical theatre choreography, including kick-lines, splits, and jazz squares. Choreographer and junior communications major Shannon Harrington says that she had a lot of fun working on the show because she is a fan of musicals herself. “The fact that we were able to pull this off is just incredible, and to see it come together was amazing,” Harrington says. “To be able to be a part of that is something really special.”
For this production, Harrington also got to choreograph with people who haven’t had much dance experience. “I really like working with people like that because I get to teach them and bring them into the world of dance,” she says. “I feel like a proud mom every time I watch them.” One of Harrington’s favorite numbers is “Magic Foot,” which includes the entire cast and some of the most complicated footwork. “Pandemonium” also stands out as a large number with a lot of movement and powerful vocals.
Harrington hopes that people who see the show will see what Stagefright is capable of and consider joining the club. “It’s a really awesome opportunity for people who like theatre, and I’m such a firm believer in what the arts can do for people.”
Molly Corley, a senior political science major, president of Stagefright, and producer for the musical, shares Harrington’s sentiments and hopes that the club can continue growing from here. “We really pushed ourselves to do something bigger, and I think its shown us that we can do it,” says Corley. “I hope in the future we do more musicals, more shows a year, and keep expanding the club.”
For Corley, the musical gave her a new experience. “I’d never produced a show before, let alone a musical,” she says. “It was extremely challenging between having a music director, choreography, and the acting. Overall, I think we had a really successful student production of a musical and I’m really proud of the cast and crew for all of their work.”
According to Director Lea Carpanzano, the most rewarding part of the show was seeing it “click” for the cast and crew. Like Harrington, she hopes that the show inspires more students to join the club and do shows. “I want to get people outside of the major doing theatre and participating,” she says. ““I think a musical is so accessible to an audience and people who want to perform. Who doesn’t love to dance and be goofy?”
Carpanzano emphasizes that the production taught her a lot, even with the bumps along the road. “It’s a great learning experience,” she says. “I feel confident in leaving this production with something.” Judging from the boisterous laughs from the crowd and the standing ovation on Saturday night, it’s apparent that all the hard work paid off.
