Aurora Arts Theatre 2024 "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" Playbill

5 6 3 5 E V E R H A R T R D, C O R P U S C H R I S T I , T X

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

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

Let’s Get Social

@auroraartstheatre

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

INVITATIONS POSTERS FLYERS YARD SIGNS PROGRAMS AND MORE!

361-825-2694 print.services@tamucc.edu

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Presents

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

Co-Director

Choreographer

Ramiro Gonzalez

Musical Director

June Vado

Brandon Besse Drums

Joshua Sneed

Scenic Design

Peter Guzman-Howard, Ramiro Gonzalez

Stage Manager

Kristin Kaufman

Synthesizer

Danae Moreno

Scenic Construction

Ron Mendleski

Scenic Artist

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 Design

Ozzy Vela, Ramiro Gonzalez

Sound Recording

Ramiro Gonzalez

Props

Cast, Ernest Pruneda

Costumes

Cast, AAT

Photography

Dylan Rios, Sabrina Delgado, Mariah Treadwell Special Thanks

Ron Mendleski, Jordan Bohl ANY VIDEO AND/OR AUDIO RECORDING OF THIS PRODUCTION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

Meet the Cast

Monica Flores

Alejandra Lleverino

Jonathon Alvarez

Riley Spencer

Jacob Zamarron

Sarah Betancourt

Kyler Brooklyn

Nick Mendleski

Christopher Salinas

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.

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A BRIGHTER

FUTURE

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.