By Peyton Cassel
The fall musical is more than it seems a comedy, a spelling bee, a play. The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee is a production with audience participation that changes from show to show. According to Mrs. Melissa Minzter, co-director of the play, Penn Manor High School has never done a performance like this before.
The show features nine different characters, and each is known to have personalities that affect the outcome.
“There is such a wide range of characters: from monotone, to crazy … to the snottiest person you will ever meet,” said Gabby Martino, a sophomore cast as Marcy Park.
Cast members and directors are not the only ones excited.
Aly Whiteman is a sophomore involved in sound crew, a group that is in charge of sound effects and other technicalities during the play. “We know that many people might not know this play, but give it a chance!” said Whiteman. “It’s a hilarious musical filled with audience participation and funny characters that pull you into the story.”
Alex Patterson, another sophomore cast in the musical, describes the show as “funny, entertaining, and a hands-on experience.”
The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee won’t perform just in Penn Manor. The theater department is taking its “show on the road” to the Pennsylvania Thespians State Conference December 3-5.
“It’s a get-together of all of Pennsylvania’s theater groups, where we get to do different activities that help us progress and become better in our theater program,” Martino said. “Only a couple schools are chosen to perform.”
According to Mrs. Minzter, this is the third time that Penn Manor will take its show to the conference. However, it’s been nearly four years since the last one.
The musical takes place in the high school auditorium on November 20-21, starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $8 for adults and $6 for students and senior citizens.