A Note From the Executive Director
Welcome to Aurora Arts Theatre and our production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee! We are delighted to bring this hilarious and heartwarming musical to life on our stage. This show, with its eclectic group of spellers, quirky judges, and engaging storyline, truly captures the spirit of competition, the charm of adolescence, and the joy of self-discovery.
Our production has been a labor of love, and I am incredibly proud of the dedication and talent of our cast, crew, and creative team. Each member has worked tirelessly to bring their characters to life, ensuring that every performance is filled with laughter, emotion, and memorable moments. The Aurora has always been committed to providing a space where both emerging and seasoned artists can collaborate, learn, and grow. This production is a testament to that mission, showcasing the talent within our Coastal Bend community and the transformative power of live theatre.
As you sit back, and relax, and enjoy the show, I hope you are reminded of the magic of theatre and the importance of community. Whether you’re here for the first time or are a longtime supporter, your presence is what makes our work meaningful. Thank you for joining us and for your continued support of Aurora Arts Theatre.
Enjoy the show.
Mary Chapa Owner & Executive Director
Continuing His Legacy
Ed Chapa was a fiercely passionate man with big aspirations and a love for the arts. What started as a simple thought shared with his wife, Mary, grew into a vision that was realized with the inception of the Aurora. The dream to open a quaint community theater on the Southside of Corpus Christi became a driving force in Ed’s life, and his dedication to the cause served as an inspiration to all he met.
The success of the Aurora lives on as a testament to the strength of his vision and of his faith in the many volunteers and community supporters who gave of their time and hearts as much as he gave of his.
Administrative Staff
Mary Chapa, Owner & Executive Director
Eric Herman, Technical Director
Dylan C. Rios, Marketing Director
Christin Espinoza, Theatre Manager
Mariah Treadwell, Box Office Associate
Aurora Arts Theatre 5635 Everhart Road, Corpus Christi, TX 361-851-9700
info@auroraartstheatre.com
Music and Lyrics by William Finn
Book by Rachel Sheinkin
Conceived by Rebecca Feldman
Additional Material by Jay Reiss
Originally Directed on Broadway by James Lapine
Originally produced on Broadway by David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whitman, Patrick Catullo
Barrington Stage Company, Second Stage Theatre
Based upon C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E, an original play by The Farm.
The Barrington Stage Company workshop of THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE was originally co-directed by Michael Barakiva and Rebecca Feldman.
Co-Director
Peter Guzman-Howard
Vocal Director
Peter Lopez
Musical Director June Vado Co-Director Ramiro Gonzalez
Scenic Design
Choreographer Brandon Besse Stage Manager Kristin Kaufman
Drums Joshua Sneed Synthesizer Danae Moreno
Peter Guzman-Howard, Ramiro Gonzalez
Scenic Artist
Scenic Construction Ron Mendleski
Jordan Bohl, Peter Guzman-Howard, Kristin Kaufman, Mariah Treadwell, Riley Spencer, Lila Guzman, Brandon Besse, Jonathon Alvarez
Lighting Design
Peter Guzman-Howard, Ramiro Gonzalez, Amber Basaldu
Lighting Op
Lila Guzman, Andrea Guzman-Howard
Sound Op
Ozzy Vela, Sabrina Delgado
Sound Recording Ramiro Gonzalez
Photography
Sound Design Ozzy Vela, Ramiro Gonzalez
Dylan Rios, Sabrina Delgado, Mariah Treadwell Props Cast, Ernest Pruneda
Special Thanks
Ron Mendleski, Jordan Bohl
Costumes Cast, AAT
Meet the Cast
Monica Flores
Sarah Betancourt
Alejandra Lleverino Jonathon Alvarez
Riley Spencer
Kyler Brooklyn
Nick Mendleski Christopher Salinas
Jacob Zamarron
Meet the Cast
Monica Cathleen Flores (Rona Lisa Peretti) is so grateful to be back on the Aurora stage! Monica has acquired over 40 stage credits over the years & was last seen as Fraulein Kost in Cabaret. HUGE thanks to the WONDERFUL production “Dream Team,” this STELLAR cast, and YOU for supporting your local community theatre scene! Enjoy the show! (she/her)
Alejandra Lleverino (Douglas Panch) is excited and grateful for the opportunity to be back onstage after an eight year break. Ale thanks Steven, Manolo, Cecilia, and Manny for their love, support, and encouragement.
Jonathon Alvarez (Mitch Mahoney) is ecstatic to be cast in one of his dream shows! This is Jonathon’s sixth show at the Aurora Arts Theatre. Previous roles include “Judas” in Godspell, “Riff Raff” in Rocky Horror, “Steve” in Rent, “Princeton” in Avenue Q, “Lurch” in Addams Family, “Fred Anderson” in A Christmas Carol, “Earthworm” in James & The Giant Peach, “Lyle” in Footloose. Enjoy the show!!!!
Riley Spencer (Olive Ostrovsky) is so excited to make her debut at the Aurora! Her recent show credits include Once Upon a Mattress (Lady Rowena/Lady Maybelle), Title of Show (Susan), and Little Women (Jo March). Riley would like to thank her friends and family for their constant support! (She/Her)
Jacob Zamarron (William Barfee) is thrilled to return to the AAT stage! He was last in the Ensemble of Christmas Story ’22 and before that was Tony in West Side Story back in 2016. Life has certainly changed a lot since then! He’d like to thank his wife, SarahBeth, for her love and support in this process. Enjoy the show!
Sarah Betancourt (Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere) is thrilled to be part of such a fabulous ensemble and is making her Aurora debut! She has previously performed at Harbor Playhouse. Her favorites are The Fantasticks (Luisa), Seussical (Gertrude McFuzz), and In the Heights (ensemble).
Kyler Brooklyn (Marcy Park) is ecstatic to be back on stage, after taking a year off to give birth to a future superstar! She’s humbled to be portraying Marcy in this incredibly fun show, and grateful to perform alongside such a talented cast! Some of her recent roles include Holly in Wedding Singer, Heather Chandler in Heathers, and Maureen Johnson in Rent. She wants to thank her family, friends, boyfriend, dogs, and her beautiful baby girl, Skye Moon, for all their love & constant support!
Nicholas Mendleski (Leaf Coneybear) is excited to be back on stage at Aurora playing a dream role of his in Leaf Coneybear after most recently starring in Godspell. He would like to thank his family and friends for all of their support. He hopes that you enjoy the show!
Christopher Salinas (Chip Tolentino) returns to the Aurora stage for another summertime production. His summer 2023 was spent consecutively performing in Aurora’s productions of Rent, Little Shop of Horrors and The Rocky Horror Show.
FUTURE
A BRIGHTER TOGETHER
At AEP Texas, we want to power change by supporting the arts.
That’s why we support the Aurora Arts Theater, a community touchstone of live theater in the Coastal Bend. Let’s break through boundaries and provide transformative experiences for the community. Working together, we deliver the energy to inspire dreams, and that’s power that really builds a bright future.
