GCRC The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee - May 10-18, 2025 by Gallo Center for the Arts

ABOUT DIGITAL PROGRAMS

The Gallo Center has adopted the use of digital programs meant to be viewed on cell phones or other computer devices. This change has important public health, environmental and economic benefits: reducing close contacts between patrons and ushers, cutting our use of paper, and eliminating substantial printing costs. View the program only before shows begin or during intermissions. Please be considerate of other patrons and artists on stage by not viewing it during performances. Patrons who do not observe this courtesy and create distractions may be asked to leave. Thank you!

WHY YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS

The Gallo Center for the Arts is a non-profit performing arts center with a deep commitment to enriching the people and communities of California’s vast San Joaquin Valley. From the scintillating performances of its wonderful resident companies, to the great variety of world-class entertainment presented by the Center each season, to robust arts education programs for the region’s youth, this is where the magic happens.

From the beginning, the Center’s mission has been clearly defined: to provide an inspirational civic gathering place where regional, national, and international cultural activities illuminate, educate, and entertain. Since revenue from ticket sales and facility rentals only covers a portion of the costs associated with fulfilling this mission, the Center is dependent on the generous annual financial support from donors and program sponsors within our community.

LEARN MORE AT GALLOARTS.ORG/SUPPORTUS.

ABOUT THE CENTER

HOW TO BUY TICKETS

In Person: 1000 I Street, downtown Modesto

Online: 24/7/365 at GalloArts.org

By Phone: (209) 338-2100

TICKET OFFICE HOURS

Monday – Friday: 10 am – 6 pm, Saturday: Noon – 6 pm Closed Sundays

Ticket Office opens two hours prior to all events

EMAIL LIST

GENERAL INFORMATION

The mission of the Gallo Center for the Arts is to enrich the quality of life in the San Joaquin Valley by providing an inspirational civic gathering place where regional, national and international cultural activities illuminate, educate and entertain. The Gallo Center for the Arts celebrates the diversity of the San Joaquin Valley by offering an array of affordable cultural opportunities designed to appeal, and be accessible, to all.

Groups qualify for discounts up to 15% on ticket prices to the many exciting performances offered by the Gallo Center for the Arts and its resident companies.

Secure your group reservation today for just 10% down of your total price!

EMPLOYEE PARTIES/REWARDS CHURCH OUTINGS

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HOLIDAY, ANNIVERSARY & BIRTHDAY PARTIES

…AND MORE!

ONE CALL DOES IT ALL!

Our group sales manager, Jesica Sanchez, is at your service. Call her at (209) 338-5064, or send an email to jsanchez@galloarts.org.

NOTE TO AUDIENCE: The videotaping or audio and/ or visual recording of this production is a violation of United States Copyright Law and an actionable federal offense.

There will be one 15 minute intermission

SPECIAL THANKS

Patrick Norris

Molly Souza

Corey Strauss

TrophyWorks

YES Company

CAST

Rona Lisa Peretti .................................................

Chelsea Foy

Chip Tolentino ..................................................... Matthew C.S.

Logainne

Schwartzandgrubenniere .............. Evan Elisa Espinosa

Leaf Coneybear ......................................... Dylan R.J. Owens

William Barfée .................................................... Sergio Lopez

Marcy Park .................................................................. Ariella Gil

Olive Ostrovsky .................................................. Chrissie Ford

Vice Principal Douglas Panch ......................... Jay McElroy

Mitch M. Mahoney .............................................. Jelani Brown

ORCHESTRA

Conductor/Keys 1 …….............................…………. Jamie Johns

Keys 2/Synth ……….…...............................……. Shiloh Mininger

Percussion ………......……...........................................…. Joel Maki

Reeds ……………….............................................…… Mitchell Beck

Cello ……..................................................................... Bella Dávila

Welcome to the Spelling Bee!

I’m so thrilled to have you all here for one of my absolute favorite musicals! I last directed this show over 10 years ago, in a tiny black box theatre in Los Angeles, and it is so exciting to get to come back to it after all this time and put it onstage as a full production with the Gallo Center Repertory Company. In a rather heartbreaking turn of events, the world lost a musical theatre great last month when William Finn passed away at 73. It has been especially poignant to be working on this show with that in mind, and I hope you enjoy this beautiful musical gift that he left behind.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee premiered in 2005 on Broadway and has gone on to incredible success regionally. It ran for nearly three years in New York, and has been produced more than 7,000 times over the past 20 years. It began as an improv based show from a group called the Farm, which first presented it in a school cafeteria. It was then further workshopped and produced by Barrington Stage Company before moving to Broadway. Original cast members have gone on to great success, among them Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Dan Fogler, and Celia Keenan-Bolger.

This show brings to a close GCRC’s 24/25 season, and I hope you have enjoyed where our productions took you to this year. I hope you will join us again this fall as begin our 25/26 season of mystery and intrigue with a new production of Dial M for Murder. Thank you for being a part of this special production, and for your unwavering support of the arts. Enjoy the show!

Sincerely,

Ryan Foy Director of Produced Theatre and Special Programming Gallo Center for the Arts

CAST BIOS

Jelani Brown (Mitch M. Mahoney) graduated from the University of the Pacific with a BM in Music Management and a focus on violin studies. While attending the conservatory, he made history by releasing the school’s first hip-hop project through the student-led label Pac Ave Records. As a performer, he has opened for artists such as Kiana Ledé, P-Lo, LaRussell, and The Ohio Players. Some of his favorite stage roles include Othello in Othello, Biff in Death of a Salesman, and Sam in Holes. Beyond the stage, Jelani is a Professor of Popular Songwriting at the University of the Pacific and the Resident Artist/Director of Hip Hop for Stockton Soul, a soul orchestra dedicated to educating, empowering, and inspiring through the magic of Black American Music. As a violinist, Jelani has performed in the Gallo Center orchestra pit for productions such as White Christmas, Peter Pan, and Hello, Dolly! He has also taken center stage as a finalist in Valley’s Got Talent. A dedicated educator, he is a FASE Diverse String Teachers Fellow and actively mentors students in strings, theater, and songwriting throughout the Central Valley and beyond. Check out his latest project, Higher Learning Vol. 1, available on all major streaming platforms, and follow him on Instagram @iamjelani.

Matthew C.S. (Chip Tolentino) is ecstatic to be making his debut with GCRC! He most recently performed in Urinetown at San Joaquin Delta College. Performing is his absolute favorite thing to do — he considers the stage his happy place. Matthew eagerly looks forward to all the new opportunities and connections that adulthood has to offer!

wife, Amber, for her enduring patience in suffering his, and both of their children’s, love of the stage and all of the rehearsals, costume hunts, missed dinners, and madness that come along with it. Jay would also like to extend a HUGE thanks to Ryan for allowing him to play what has become one of his favorite roles in modern musical theater and to you, dear patrons, for your time, your support, and (hopefully) your applause! Enjoy the Bee!

Dylan R.J. Owens (Leaf Coneybear) is E-C-S-T-AT-I-C to make his Gallo Center Repertory Company debut in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Recently turned 18, Dylan is a Modesto local and is excited to explore more mature productions, with Spelling Bee being a dream show of his for quite some time. Some may recognize him from, YES Company, most known for his role as Curly McLain in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!. He’s also a frequent cast member of Cornerstone Community Theatre, recently playing Theodore Laurence III in Little Women. And he recently completed his high school theatre education with Something Rotten! JR. and Shrek the Musical. This summer, Dylan is moving to New York City to further enrich his passion for musical theatre by attending The Institute of American Musical Theatre (IAMT). When he’s not performing, he enjoys listening to Carole King and Broadway cast albums, and watching sea otter videos. He sends a big thanks to everyone who came to support him, especially his mom and dad.

Ryan Foy

Maggie Sniffen

Jamie Johns

James Lapine

Jewel Whitaker

William Finn Noelle Souza

Rachel Sheinkin

Jay Reiss

Rebecca Feldman

CREATIVE TEAM BIOS

Ryan Foy (Director/Scenic Designer) is the Director of Produced Theatre and Special Programming for the Gallo Center for the Arts, and in that role serves as artistic leadership for the Gallo Center Repertory Company. Originally from Denver, CO, Ryan graduated from the University of Michigan Musical Theatre program and studied at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Sydney, Australia. His early theatrical career was spent in New York City, appearing onstage in numerous national/ international tours and regional productions across America, Australia, and Asia, including performances at Radio City Music Hall and the New York International Fringe Festival. Some of his favorite directing credits include Bat Boy: The Musical, Reefer Madness, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Ryan’s theatrical experience extends beyond the stage, with work in company management, Broadway marketing, and theatrical design and production. He is currently working to promote diversity and equity in the theatre industry through his web design and consulting work with MAESTRA, MUSE, and RISE, organizations which help create pathways toward employment for marginalized groups in the theatre community. As a passionate local community member, Ryan is also a founder of the Modesto Children’s Museum, and serves on the Stanislaus Art Council board.

Jamie Johns (Music Director) has had a varied career in commercial theater, opera, chamber music, musical theatre, and academia. After serving six years on the road as the music director of the North American tour of The Phantom of the Opera, Jamie was briefly on faculty at Penn State before joining the theatre department at Stanislaus State.

Highlights from Jamie’s conducting career include

Jewel has performed with Prospect Theater Projects’ Radio Cavalcade since its inception, Center Stage Conservatory in 2019, and Opera Modesto in their 2022 World Concert. She is the Special Programming and Events Manager for the Gallo Center for the Arts, overseeing all Rentals and Resident Companies and their partnerships with the center.

Noelle Souza (Costume Designer) is delighted to be back working with her friends at GCRC! For the stage, she has recently designed Boeing Boeing, 1984, Born Yesterday, 12 Angry Jurors, Winter Wonderettes, and Murder on the Orient Express for GCRC, Rough Crossing and Mother of the Maid for Prospect Theatre Project, and Oklahoma!, The Addams Family, Annie, YES Co’s 30th Anniversary Concert Spectacular, and Singin’ in the Rain for YES Company. For television, she has worked as the Costume Designer, Props Master, and Scenic Designer for over 40 national commercials for the brand, Grocery Outlet. Ms. Souza holds a degree from the University of San Diego and is passionate about sharing “costume magic” and storytelling through clothing. You can find more information about her work on her website: www.noellesouza. com.

William Finn (Composer) was the writer and composer of Falsettos, for which he received two Tony Awards, Best Book of a Musical (with James Lapine) and Best Original Score. He also wrote and composed In Trousers, March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland (Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, two Los Angeles Drama Critic’s Awards, two Drama Desk Awards, the Lucille Lortel Award, and Guggenheim Fellowship in Musical Composition). Mr. Finn wrote the lyrics to Graciela Daniele’s Tango

Child, and Dirty Blonde. He has written the plays Table Settings, Twelve Dreams, The Moment When, Fran’s Bed and Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing. Lapine has been nominated for eleven Tony Awards, winning on three occasions. He has also been the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, SDC’s Mr. Abbott Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theater, and inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.

The Farm was founded in 2000 by Rebecca Feldman, Artistic Director. It is a collective of writers and performers, including Jay Reiss, Dan Fogler, and Sarah Saltzberg. The Farm’s interest is in the role of improvisation in creating new work for the theatre. The Farm initially designates a two-week intensive period in which to discover, develop, and rehearse a play from the impulses borne mainly out of the pressure of a deadline. Previous projects include “Super” (at Atlantic Theatre Studios), “Why I Hate Florida” (workshop at White Wave in DUMBO) and “C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E” (at the Present Company Theatorium in October 2002), on which “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is based. The character and original dialogue of “Beth Marguiles,” “Vice President Douglas Panch,” “Mr. Barfee,” and “Logan Schwarzengrubenierre” were created by Rebecca Feldman, Jay Reiss, Dan Fogler, and Sarah Saltzberg, respectively.

MUSIC & LYRICS BY STEPHEN SONDHEIM BOOK BY JAMES LAPINE

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2025 | 2 PM

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2025 | 2 PM

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2025 | 7 PM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2025, 7 PM

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2025, 2 PM

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2025, 2 PM

Presented by Sponsored by

ADAPTED BY SIMON STEPHENS BASED ON THE NOVEL BY MARK HADDON

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2026, 7 PM

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2026, 2 PM

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2026, 2 PM

FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2026, 7 PM

SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 2026, 2 PM

SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2026, 2 PM

Presented by

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Christina Gomez, ChairoftheBoard

Marie D. Gallo, PresidentEmerita† June Rogers, Director Emerita

Alex Mari, M.D., ImmediatePastChair

Ginger Johnson, ChairElect

Mel Bradley Fallon Ferris

Sarah Grover

Chad Hilligus

Michael Krausnick

Jay Krishnaswamy

Michelle Lewis

Katy Menges

Todd Aaronson

Angelica Anguiano

Victor Barraza

John C. Bellizzi

Jennifer Coehlo

Kathryn Davis

Daniel Del Real

Paul Michael Eger

Robert Fantazia

Stacey Filippi

Robert Fores Julian Gallo

Irene Angelo†

Lilly Banisadre

Carl Boyett†

Joan Cardoza

Sheila Carroll

Suzanne Casazza

Paul Draper

Ron Emerzian

Ann Endsley

Kenni Friedman

Juan Sánchez Muñoz, Ph.D.

Duncan Reno

Tina Rocha Brant Scott

Michael Joe Silva

Stephanie Gallo Tyler

Ann M. Veneman

Geoff Wong

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Ryan Roth Gallo

Virginia Madueno

Roberto Martinez

Ivey Mayol

Yolanda Meraz

Sharilyn Nelson

Linda Hischier Ronald Hoffmann

Jose Ibarra

Jaime Jimenez

Brian Kline Kevin Luttenegger

Ogle, Ph.D.

Johann Ramirez

Rose Marie Reavill Jeffrey Reed

FOUNDING TRUSTEES

Louis Friedman

Dianne Gagos

Barry Highiet† Randy Jalli

Roy Levin, M.D.

Alexandra Loew

Bill Mattos

Tony Mistlin† Kate Nyegaard

Ruthann Olsen

Jeanne Perry

John C. Pfeffer, M.D.

Norm Porges

Chris Reed James Reed

Ellen Ritchey Delsie Schrimp

Catherine Rhee

Christine Roberts

Rosalee Rush

John Schneider

Kate Trompetter

Philip Trompetter, Ph.D.

Aaron Valencia

Colleen F. Van Egmond

Doug Vilas

Sue Zwahlen

Fred A. Silva

Ray Simon

Delmar R. Tonge, M.D.†

Tom Van Groningen, Ph.D.

Carol Whiteside†

Jeremiah Williams

Alice Yip

†In Memoriam