Credit to Kylie Taliaferro

The spring musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” was held on March 15-16. With two shows on the 16 back to back. Originally the play was set to be held with a middle school and a regular show on the 14. But due to unforeseen weather, the opening night play was pushed back forcing the cast to do two shows in one day.

“We just immediately pivoted and added a matinee to Saturday to try and accommodate,” director and senior Mac Akerman said.

The beginning of the musical started with auditions in Dec. and rehearsals beginning in Jan. The musical was about various students competing in a spelling bee as we see inner monologues of what different students go through to make it to the competition. As spellers lose, we see the previous rivalries in the students turn into an understanding of one another and who they are. We also see a wide range of songs that differ from sad and heartening to extremely comical.

“It was an incredible show,” club advisor Kim Sulzner said. “Students were super talented and so prepared that throwing that curveball at them didn’t really phase them.”

Concessions and tickets were sold to help the drama club with future thescons they would be attending. Various baskets were also raffled off to help buy a new Norm custom which went along with the night’s theme that people kept in mind since it was the last show in the building.

“My entire family and friends came Saturday night because they knew it was the last show in this building,” Sulzner said. “Seniors really felt it too.”

At the closing show credit was given to the cast and crew, with the directors following up with a club tradition of handing out flowers and cards to people who played a large role in making the musical. The night ended with an announcement of next year’s musical, “Grease” as friends and family celebrated the last show. 

“This musical I think was if not one of the best shows I have been a part of,” Akerman said. “We definitely couldn’t have done it without the incredibly creative cast and crew we had.”