CALLBACKS:

Monday, February 13th- 12pm-4pm

VIDEO SUBMISSION:

For actors who are unable to attend in person, we are accepting video submissions now through January 24th 2025 at 10pm. All video auditions should be emailed to [email protected] with a link to your Vimeo, Youtube, or your preferred hosting platform as well as any password or instructions to access it and your audition form.

•   Don’t attach video files directly to your email since the large files really clog up our inbox and are harder to share.
•  State at the top of the video your name and the role(s) you would like to be considered for.

APPOINTMENTS:

Please sign up for an audition slot using the link below.

Sign Up Here!

*If your slot is before the dance call, please stay for the call and you will be finished with your audition at the completion of the dance call.

If your slot is after the dance call, please arrive prepared for the dance call and stay for your slot and you will be finished at the completion of your audition.

Saturday, January 25 – 4-8pm (Mandatory Dance Call – 6pm-6:30pm)

Monday, January 27 – 4-8pm (Mandatory Dance Call – 6pm-6:30pm)

PREPARATION:

Please bring a resume and headshot as well as your audition form (audition forms will be provided if you can’t print) and prepare the side(s) for the character(s) you would like to be considered for found at the link below. No more than 2 characters per audition, please. The script and score can also be found here. Printed sides will be provided but please feel free to bring your own.

LOCATION:

Agnes Scott College
141 E. College Ave. Decatur, Georgia 30030

Use the parking garage located on McDonough. The auditions will be held in the Winter Theatre located in the Dana building. To get there from the garage turn right on McDonough and then cross the street. Dana is near the back of the campus, and there’s a large brick facade in front of the building. Walk through the arch to get to the front door.

PERSONNEL:

Expected to attend
Producing Artistic Director: Justin Ball
Director: Candy McClellan
Music Director: Paul Tate
Co-chair, Department of Creative Arts: Toby Emert

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Conceived by Rebecca Feldman and Jay Reiss Music & Lyrics by William Finn
Book by Rachel Sheinkin
Directed by: Candy McClellan

First Rehearsal: Tuesday, February 25, 2025 – 7pm-10pm

Opening: Thursday, April 10, 2025 – 7::30pm
Closing: Sunday, April 20, 2025 – 2:30pm
Pay: $1200

Pay for understudies and swings: $400 plus and additional $100/performance.

Show Synopsis

An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves a champion! At least the losers get a juice box.

Parts that are doubled may also be cast with extra cast members. All ethnicities, races, body types are welcome and highly encouraged to audition and to throw out any original version of how this show is cast

Characters

Rona Lisa Peretti/ Olives mom

This former Spelling Bee champ is not only the county’s top realtor, she also runs a highly lucrative e-Bay business, selling sensible pumps at sensible prices. She is incredibly kind to the spellers, having been in their shoes many years earlier. She is a sweet woman who loves children, but she 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. / (Olive’s Mom) A fantasy version of Olive’s mom at her Ashram in India. Normally played by the actor playing Rona.

Vice Principal Douglas Panch

The Vice Principal. Frustrated with his life, he finds the drive of the young spellers alien to him. He was involved in an “incident” at the Twentieth Annual Bee that got him removed from the judging panel. After five years’ absence from the Bee, Panch returns as judge, in “a better place,” thanks to a high-fiber diet and therapy. He is infatuated with Rona Lisa Peretti, but she does not return his affections. We are looking for a strong character actor with impeccable comic timing and the ability to improv. While he does not need to sing, he is the most important role in the entire show.

Mitch Mahoney/Dan Dad/ Olive’s dad

The Official Comfort Counselor. This former felon is fulfilling his court ordered community service at the bee and acting as the bee’s “comfort counselor,” handing our juice boxes and a dose of reality to the losers. He comes across as scary and tough but is really a big softy deep down. He has no idea how to offer comfort, but does find himself wishing he could find a way to make the kids feel better. / (Dan Dad) The more laid back and ineffectual of Schwarzy’s fathers. Normally played by the actor playing Mitch. / (Olive’s dad) A fantasy version of Olive’s dad coming to the bee from work. Normally played by the actor playing Mitch.

Olive Ostrovsky

Speller #11. A young newcomer to competitive spelling. The heart of the show, Olive is basically deserted at the bee. Her mom is in an ashram in India and her dad never shows up, even after promising that, this time, he’ll try to make it. Her best friend is a dictionary. She starts enormously shy, and shyly blossoms.

William Barfée

Speller #13. A Putnam County Spelling Bee finalist last year, he was eliminated because of an allergic reaction to peanuts and is back for vindication. He has no interest in making friends at the bee. 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.

Logainne Schwartz and Grubenierre

Speller #1. Logainne is the youngest and most politically aware speller, often making comments about current political figures and her mature world views. She has two overbearing gay dads who have turned her neurotic and self-conscious.

Leaf Coneybear/Carl Dad

Speller #17. As just the second runner-up in his district’s bee, he really shouldn’t be competing here. He finds everything about the bee incredibly amusing. He is home-schooled and comes from a large family of former hippies. He makes his own clothes, is home schooled and lacks social skills. He’s strange but very sweet, loving and kindhearted but distracted. He has severe Attention Deficit Disorder and spells words correctly while in a trance. / (Carl Dad) Schwartzy’s main trainer, the more intense and competitive of Schwarzy’s fathers. Normally played by actor playing Leaf.

Marcy Park

Speller #7. Marcy is the most feared and practiced competitor in the bee. She made it all the way to ninth place in Nationals last year and is back to win again. 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 does not recognize her own lack of humor. She is incredibly intense and attends a Catholic school called “Our Lady of Intermittent Sorrows.” She is also not allowed to cry.

Chip Tolentino/ Jesus

Speller #21. Last Year’s 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. He is strong willed, competitive and ambitious. An athletic, social, boy scout, he returns to defend his title, but he finds puberty hitting at an inopportune moment. / (Jesus ) Deity invoked by a speller in need. Normally played by the actor playing Chip.