Spelling Bee

The School of Theatre at Florida State Presents

Director and Choreographer Steven Higginbotham Music Director Tom Ossowski Costume Designer Julia Matteson Bradley Scenic Designer Robert F. Wolin

Assistant Director Al Heartley Sound Designer Zach Cramer

Technical Director Dylan Patrick Callery

Assistant Music Director Sudarat Songsiridej

Lighting Designer Dan Kimble Stage Manager Laura Been

Assistant Choreographer Rachel Boone

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. 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019 Phone: 212-541-4684 Fax: 212-397-4684 www.MTIshows.com

February 11-20, 2011 The Fallon Theatre

Cast

William Barfée……….............................................................…..Garrett Sanders Leaf Coneybear……………….............................................Trevor Leaderbrand Olive Ostrovsky………...............................................................……..Jennifer Bell Marcy Park…….....................................................................…….….Grace Choi Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere……...........................…….Emmy Buckner Chip Tolentino……..............................................................…..Stephen Sabbag Rona Lisa Perretti…......................................................................…..Allyse Gillen Vice Principal Douglas Panch…..............................................Matthew Janisse Mitch Mahoney….................................................................………Cedric Paige Memory Moms...…….................................................................…Sarah Jackson Memory Dads…..….................................................................……Adair Watkins Memory Characters............................................................………Max Chucker Ensemble………...……..Randy Dierkes, Collean Gallagher, Leigh Ellen Jones

Tanner Lane, Hillary Smith, Peyton Thomas Tucker

Understudies and Swings* William Barfée..................................................................................Max Chucker Leaf Coneybear/Chip Tolentino.....................................................Randy Dierkes Olive Ostrovsky/Rona Lisa Perretti..............................................Collean Gallaher Marcy Park.....................................................................................Leigh Ellen Jones Memory Dads/Memory Characters...................................................Tanner Lane Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere/Memory Moms.......................Hillary Smith Mitch Mahoney/Vice Principal Douglas Panch.............Peyton Thomas Tucker Male Swing......................................................................................Brandon Robins Female Swing........................................................................................Carlie Craig *Understudies and swings never substitute for listed players unless a specific announcement is made at the time of the performance.

There will be one 15 minute intermission.

The use of any video or audio recording device and flash photography is strictly prohibited.

Musical Numbers

Act One The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.....................................Company The Rules...................................................................Panch, Rona, and Company My Friend The Dictionary.......................................................Olive and Company Pandemonium..........................................................................................Company I’m Not That Smart...............................................................................................Leaf Magic Foot.......................................................Barfée, Company, and Ensemble Rona’s Favorite Moment of The Bee..............................................................Rona Prayer of the Comfort Counselor........................................Mitch and Company Act Two Chip’s Lament.....................................................................................................Chip Woe Is Me.........................................................................Logainne and Company Spelling Montage..................................................Panch and Remaining Spellers I’m Not That Smart Reprise.................................................................................Leaf I Speak Six Languages............................Marcy with Olive, Logainne, and Rona The I Love You Song.................Olive with her Memory Mom and Memory Dad Woe Is Me Reprise.......................................................................................Logainne Rona’s Favorite Moment of the Bee Reprise.................................................Rona Weltanschauung.....................................................Olive, Barfée, and Company The Champion..........................................................................................Company Epilogues....................................................................................................Company Finale..........................................................................................................Company

Orchestra Piano...........................................................................................Sudarat Songsiridej Keyboards...........................................................................................Roberto Sinha Reeds........................................................................................................Jon Olejnik Cello.........................................................................................Stephanie Sandritter Percussion..................................................................................................Luis Rivera Bass.......................................................................................................Tom Ossowski

The School of Theatre at Florida State is a member of the University/Resident Theatre Association, Inc. and is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre.

Cast Headshots

Jennifer Bell

Emmy Buckner

Grace Choi

Carlie Craig

Max Chucker

Randy Dierkes

Collean Gallagher

Allyse Gillen

Sarah Jackson

Matthew Janisse

Leigh Ellen Jones

Tanner Lane

Trevor Leaderbrand

Cedric Paige

Brandon Robins

Garrett Sanders

Stephen Sabbag

Hillary Smith

Peyton Thomas Tucker

Adair Watkins

Who’s Who Jennifer Bell (Olive Ostrovsky) is a senior BM Music Theatre major from Palm Beach Gardens, FL. She is very excited to be a part of “the bee”!

Previous credits include A…My Name is Alice, On the Town, HAIR, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and The Rocky Horror Show. She thanks her family, friends, and the cast for such an incredible experience!

Emmy Buckner* (Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere) is a junior BFA Music Theatre major. Previous credits include The Drowsy Chaperone (Kitty), Carousel (Louise), On the Town (Flossie), and A…My Name is Alice (Karen). Her professional credits include Walt Disney World, Stephen Foster Productions, and Music Theatre Louisville. A big thanks to the cast, her family and friends, and Max. Grace Choi (Marcy Park) is a sophomore BM Music Theatre major and is immensely grateful to be given this opportunity to play Marcy!

Recent credits include Carousel, RENT, Kiss Me, Kate, and On the Town. Special thanks to Christine, Zacc, Arthur – and of course, Umma, Appa, and Jee Ae. Sarang hae!

Max Chucker (Memory Character, u/s William Barfée) is a junior BM Music Theatre major excited to return to the Fallon Stage. Past FSU credits include Thoroughly Modern Millie, South Pacific, HAIR, On the Town, Kiss Me, Kate, RENT, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Carousel.

He would like to thank his family, friends, teachers, and girlfriend.

Carlie Craig (Female Swing) is a sophomore BA Theatre major hailing from South Florida! She is too excited to be swingin’ and singin’ at

“the bee”. She made her School of Theatre debut this past fall in If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (Mouse).

She has also appeared in La Cosa Nostra’s Reefer Madness (Mary Lane). Break a leg cast and crew!

Randy Dierkes* (Ensemble, u/s Leaf Coneybear and Chip Tolentino) is a sophomore BFA Music Theatre major from Nashville, TN, and is so excited to be back on the Fallon Stage.

Recent credits at FSU include On the Town, RENT, and Bus Stop. Other credits include The 25th Annual…

Spelling Bee, The Wizard of Oz, and Pump Boys and Dinettes. He would like to thank his family and friends for their enduring love and support!

Collean Gallagher (Ensemble, u/s Olive Ostrovsky and Rona Lisa Perretti) is a sophomore BM Music Theatre major from Acworth, GA. She is thrilled to be here at “the bee”. Previous FSU credits include The Velveteen Rabbit, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Carousel. She would like to thank God, her family, friends, and amazing roomies for all of their support!

Allyse Gillen* (Rona Lisa Perretti) is a senior BFA Music Theatre major from New Orleans, LA. She is sad to be performing for the last time on the Fallon Stage and wants to thank her classmates, friends, teachers, and family for all their support!

Sarah Jackson* (Memory Moms)is a sophomore BFA Music Theatre major from New Orleans, LA. She is thrilled to be returning to the Fallon Stage.

Previous credits include The Drowsy Chaperone (Drowsy Chaperone), RENT, and On the Town (Diana Dream). She thanks her family and her friends for their unconditional love and support.

Who’s Who Matthew Janisse (Vice Principal Douglas Panch) is a sophomore BFA Music Theatre major. Previous credits include On the Town (Policeman), RENT (Roger), and Bus Stop (u/s Virgil).

He would like to thank the cast for being so much fun, his director for the cool new working process, his family for coming to all the shows, and his FSU family.

Brandon Robins (Male Swing) is a sophomore BFA Music Theatre major from Atlanta, GA. Previous credits include The Drowsy Chaperone (Superintendant), Carousel, the New Horizons: Original Works Festival production of Dëliciöüs Bëärs (Momo), and Kiss Me, Kate. He would like to thank his mom and dad for being the best.

Leigh Ellen Jones (Ensemble, u/s Marcy Park) is a freshman BFA Music Theatre major from Cumming, GA. Previous credits include Carousel. Much love to her family and her freshman class!

Garrett Sanders (William Barfée) is a freshman BA Theatre major who is ecstatic to be joining such a talented cast and crew for his FSU debut. Previous roles include The Pirates of Penzance (Major General), The Sound of Music (Rolf), and Grease (Teen Angel). Thanks to Steven, Tom, family, and friends.

Tanner Lane (Ensemble, u/s Memory Dads and Memory Characters) is a sophomore BFA Music Theatre major from Jacksonville, FL. He is so excited to be a part of this great production! Previous credits include The Drowsy Chaperone (Underling), On the Town, and Random Acts of Violence. Thanks to my mom, dad, and the rest of my family for their love and support!

Trevor Leaderbrand* (Leaf Coneybear) is a junior BFA Music Theatre major, and was last seen on the Fallon Stage in The Drowsy Chaperone (George). Previous credits include On the Town, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and the New Horizons: Original Works Festival production of Nocturnal Admissions. Biggest thanks to everyone who makes me laugh.

Cedric Paige (Mitch Mahoney) is a freshman BFA Music Theatre major from Jacksonville, FL. This is his first show at FSU and he is excited and honored to be part of an amazing show. He would like to thank God, his family, and friends for all their love and encouragement.

Stephen Sabbag (Chip Tolentino)is a junior BM Music Theatre major from Miami, FL. Professional credits include The Wizard of Oz (Scarecrow), Pump Boys and Dinettes (L.M./guitar), The 25th Annual…Spelling Bee (Chip).

Previous FSU credits include Carousel (Mr. Snow), On the Town (Chip), and HAIR (Woof). Thanks and love to Steven, Gayle, Kate, and Ryan.

Hillary Smith* (Ensemble, u/s Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere and Memory Moms) is a junior BFA Music Theatre major from Carmel, IA. She was last seen in The Drowsy Chaperone (Janet Van de Graaff).

Previous FSU credits include HAIR, On the Town, and A…My Name is Alice. She would like to thank her family and friends for their constant love and support!

Who’s Who Peyton Thomas Tucker (Ensemble, u/s Mitch Mahoney and Vice Principal Douglas Panch) is a junior BFA Music Theatre major. He spent last semester with the School of Music in their production of Lesir D’Amore. Some previous FSU credits include RENT, On the Town, HAIR, Carousel, and Kiss Me, Kate. Professional credits include Oklahoma! (Curly) and The Lost Colony. He would like to thank his teachers, classmates, and family.

Adair Watkins (Memory Dads) is a junior BM Music Theatre major originally from Mandeville, LA. Previous FSU credits include The Drowsy Chaperone (Aldolpho), RENT (Collins), On the Town (Ozzie), and HAIR (Margaret Mead). Professional credits include The Last Five Years, Stephen Foster: The Musical, and Joseph…Dreamcoat. Thanks to his family for their love and support.

Steven Higginbotham (Director/ Choreographer) is a second year MFA Directing candidate originally from Cleveland, OH. Previous credits include work as a director, choreographer, teacher, and performer on stages from Maine to Arizona, including portraying everyone’s favorite big, yellow bird in the international tour of Sesame Street Live!. At FSU, he has directed Recreational Living, The Sideshow of Foreclosure (A Social Issues Project), and On the Floor (American College Theatre Festival), and he assistant directed The Violet Hour. Favorite directing credits at other venues include Little Shop of Horrors, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, I Do! I Do!, The Wizard of Oz, and Spoon River Anthology. However you spell it, the love of one’s family is the greatest blessing of all, and Steven would like to thank his own for inspiring him to chase his dreams.

Tom Ossowski (Music Director) is an Associate Professor at FSU and the Producing Artistic Director for the Post Playhouse at Fort Robinson State Park in NE. Most recently at the Post Playhouse, Tom directed Pump Boys and Dinettes, The Wizard of Oz, and Nunsense. He has also directed Always…Patsy Cline, Hello, Dolly!, Oklahoma!, South Pacific, and Guys and Dolls. At FSU, he directed On the Town, HAIR, The Rocky Horror Show, and Sweeney Todd and music directed RENT, Into the Woods, Man of La Mancha, and Urinetown. Tom has also directed for theatres such as the Centennial Theatre Festival in CT, Seaside Music Theatre in Daytona Beach, FL, The Lost Colony in Manteo, NC, and the Bigfork Musical Theatre in MT. His work has taken him to Zug, Switzerland and to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tom is the former Head of the Music Theatre Department at Illinois Wesleyan University, where he taught acting, directing, and musical theatre courses. Some additional directing/music directing credits include Chicago, 42nd Street, A New Brain, and A Man of No Importance.

Other professional credits include You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown!, Lucky Stiff, The Fantasticks!, Crazy for You, Grease, Little Shop of Horrors, and Fiddler on the Roof. Tom is a member of The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.

Al Heartley (Assistant Director) is a senior BA Theatre major from Atlanta, GA, and very happy and excited to have the opportunity to work on The 25th Annucal…Spelling Bee. His directing credits include Orestes 2010, The Brothers Size, and Doubt, A parable. Al would like to thank Steven for being an incredible directing mentor and the wonderful cast!

Who’s Who Julia Matteson Bradley (Costume Designer) is a second year MFA Costume Design candidate. She received her BFA in Costume Technology from FSU in 2000.

Previous design work includes How I Learned to Drive and New Horizons: Original Works Festival with the School of Theatre, and The Rape of Lucretia with FSU Opera. Her other full time job is being a mommy to two little girls who love seeing how everything works backstage!

include An Evening with Quentin Crisp, Fraulein Else, Queen of Hearts, Shivaree, and several productions for The Glines. He also served as an Assistant Designer on Broadway shows such as Young Frankenstein, The Producers, and Flower Drum Song. Other design work includes events for Hershey Park and Freelance Art Director for MTV Networks Special Events. Robert is a member of United Scenic Artists, Local 829.

Zach Cramer (Sound Designer) joined the staff of the School of Theatre in November of 2009 as Sound Designer. He has been involved with theatre since his sophomore year of high school and has since designed over 50 productions. Design credits include The Who’s Tommy, Peter Pan, Jekyll and Hyde, Ragtime, Seussical The Musical, The Full Monty, The Secret Garden, Nine (winner 2008 FTC, 2009 SETC and advanced to national AACT), Titanic, The Producers, RENT and The Drowsy Chaperone.

Dylan Patrick Callery (Technical Director) is a second year MFA Technical Production candidate.

Previous credits with the School of Theatre include assistant technical direction for The Drowsy Chaperone and New Horizons: Original Works Festival.

Dan Kimble (Lighting Designer) is a third year MFA Lighting Design candidate pursuing a career in theatrical, dance, and concert lighting. He earned his Bachelor’s in Theatre: Production/Design from Frostburg State University in Frostburg, MD. Recent lighting design credits include Bus Stop, RENT, and The Violet Hour.

Robert F. Wolin (Scenic Designer) is the scenic designer for all subscription shows at the School of Theatre this season. Robert has designed for the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Porthouse Theatre, and Gulfshore Playhouse.

His Off-Broadway design credits

Laura Been (Stage Manager) is a senior BA Theatre major. Last season she was the production manager for New Horizons: Original Works Festival. She has loved her time here and would like to thank Ombra, JMo and the ladies, her family, roommates, and incredible friends for all their support. Mazel Tov!

Always a class act.

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Director’s Notes What is a bee? Besides an often-shooed stinging insect, a bee refers to a community social gathering at which friends and neighbors join together in a single activity (sewing, quilting, barn raising, picking apples, and so on) usually to help one person or family. These sewing bees or apple bees or quilting bees were staged over time in order to bring people together, to unite them with camaraderie in the present day. A spelling bee, with its focus on encouraging a submersion in learning language, historically would serve the same purpose while promoting the value of a good education.

How does this relate to the musical journey you are about to undertake in this performance? This event has brought all of us together as a community to share our love for the theatre, our desire to participate in a fun and entertaining competition, and our willingness to reflect on our common childhood experiences.

Do you remember your first day at a new school? When you won that Little League championship baseball game? When you made a best friend? When you competed in your elementary school spelling bee? What you were thinking when you met your first crush? Childhood memories are so rich and colorful for us because, back then, we were so open to absorbing every bit of each experience.

Our imaginations would ignite us, our creativity would keep us engaged, and our desire to play would motivate our need to connect with others. Although each of us felt challenged to fit in and found ourselves feeling like the biggest geeks on the planet at times, we always found others to share in our awkwardness.

When I was in rehearsals for this production, I would find myself thinking back to my own childhood and discovering personal similarities with all of the finalist spellers onstage. Isn’t there a little bit of William Barfée in each of us? And I also found myself thinking of my father. You see, at six-feet-five inches tall, his heart and his imagination were just as big as he was. He lived a life where he believed that anything was possible, looking at the world around him with the kind of youthful optimism that only could be held by the very biggest kid in the room…my dad.

I ask you to approach this show with that Jim Higginbotham kind of spirit, that unbridled willingness to embrace the kid that still lives on in your heart and the way that this feeling may inspire you to connect with others around you. Have fun, and enjoy “The Bee”!

Steven Higginbotham Director, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Production Staff Director and Choreographer..........................................Steven Higginbotham Music Director..................................................................................Tom Ossowski Assistant Director.................................................................................Al Heartley Assistant Choreographer.............................................................Rachel Boone* Directing Advisor...........................................................................Fred Chappell Choreography Advisor...................................................Kate Watson Gelabert Assistant Music Director/Rehearsal Pianist.........................Sudarat Songsiridej Rehearsal Pianist............................................................................Roberto Sinha Vocal Coaches...........................................................Debra Hale, David Turner Costume Designer..........................................................Julia Matteson Bradley Assistant Costume Designers...........................................................Kris Peterson Costume Shop Manager.....................................................Claire Marty Walker Assistant Costume Shop Manager.............................................Michele Belson Costume Design Advisor...........................................................Colleen Muscha Costume Technology Advisor...............................................Martha H. Cooper Costume Crafts...................................................Jayne Adle, Katie Kupferberg Drapers...............................................Kate Foley, Kaitlyn Kociela, Kris Peterson Stichers............................................Michele Belson, Ashley Cortes, Kate Foley

Kaitlyn Kociela, Kris Peterson, Elysia Santiago Wardrobe Supervisor....................................................................Kaitlyn Kociela Costume Dyer/Painter....................................................Julia Matteson Bradley Sound Designer................................................................................Zach Cramer Assistant Sound Designer/Sound Board Operator.........................Tyler Teagle Sound Assistant........................................................................Rebeccah Noyes Lighting Designer................................................................................Dan Kimble Assistant Lighting Designers...............................Devin Kinch, Merritt Rodriguez Master Electrician............................................................................Bri Weintraub Assistant Master Electricians........Amanda Diaz, Eda Rodriguez, Kelsey Vidic Electricians...................................Dylan Callery, Dayne Catalano, Zoe Chase

Mallory Hewell*, Lauren Hlubny, Kelly Lamanna Elizabeth Marquis*, Heather Reynolds, Jose Santiago, Gina Scheraldi Lighting Supervisor..................................................................Scott Vandenberg Assistant Lighting Supervisor..........................................................Alyssa Milione Light Board Operator........................................................................Britt Gordon Scenic Designer............................................................................Robert F. Wolin Technical Director..............................................................Dylan Patrick Callery Assistant Technical Directors..........................Elizabeth McLendon, Sam Miller Technical Direction Advisors.................Robert H. Coleman, Zachary Stribling Carpenters............................................Brandon Hall, Sam Miller, Robert Richoux

Amy Schneider, Karn Severson, Josh Wickham Scene Shop Manager.....................................................................Ralph Walker Assistant Scene Shop Supervisor...................................................David Berardi Scenic Charge Artist and Paint Shop Supervisor...........................Jason Strom Scenic Artists.................................................Rebecca Curran, Ariel Emmerson

Mallory Hewell*, Elizabeth Marquis*

Elizabeth McLendon, Rebeccah Noyes Properties Manager.................................................................................Erin Kehr Assistant Properties Manager........................................................Alyssa Milione Properties Master.............................................................................Natalie Hoak Properties Artisans.............Cameron Davis, Amanda Diaz, Rebeccah Noyes

Robert Richoux, Merritt Rodriguez Stage Manager..................................................................................Laura Been

Production Staff

Assistant Stage Managers...........Kasey Phillips, Kat McLeod, Ashley Squires* Production Manager..................................................................Ombra Sandifer Run Crew.......................Francesca Carollo, Ashley Cohen, Katelyn Douglass

Taylor Edmonds, Jude Flannelly, Gillian Gilbert, Daniel Golan

Krista Harrell, Natalie Johnson, Ashley Kellem, Cole Marshall

Jennifer Maurer, Mariah Michael, Amanda Paul, Beth Rousseau

Michelle Scileppi, Blayze Teicher, Destiny Thompson

Courtney Williams, Zach Williams House Manager.....................................................................Amanda Chandler House Management Supervisor......................................................Alisha Jones Usher Crew..........................................................Lauren Alagna, Amanda Diaz

Lauren Hlubny, Andrea Jeannot, Marrisa Koch, Ariel Niznik

Michelle Pariseau, Odette Rodriguez, Anita Scheraldi, Kayla Tomas

Kelsey Vidic, Allison Wilson, Dana Wuycheck Fine Arts Ticket Office Staff...........................Ashley Kerns, Amanda Chandler

Heather McFarland, Christopher Brazelton

Lauren Carlberg, Christal Ferreira, Paige Johnson

Mackenzie McBride*, Luis Mora, Alyssa Morris Alex Nimmons, Bri Weintraub Associate Marketing Manager.......................................................Marta Stout* Marketing Assistant..............................................................Heather McFarland Marketing Interns..............................................Luis Alvarez-Schacht, Luis Mora

Stephanie Ritter, Rachael Singer Development Associate.......................................................Amanda Chandler Patrons Association Assistant...........................................................Ashley Kerns Community Engagement Manager..................................................Brad Brock Marketing and Communications Manager...................................Corin Schall

Patrons Association Spotlight Jordan Moore is a junior BA Theatre major and Media Productions major from Pace, FL. He has been heavily involved in the Student Theatre Association (STA) during his time at FSU, performing in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Psuedolous) and designing the scenery for Doubt, The Brothers Size, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Jordan is working on several projects for STA, and is currently designing the scenery for all Leave Your Mark Productions including Send/End, Burn This, Titus Andronicus, and Bat Boy the Musical. He performed in two of the productions, Send/End (Bro) and Bat Boy the Musical (Sheriff).

All of his experience has led Jordan to look toward pursuing a graduate degree in scenic design. He would like to thank the Patrons Association for their generous scholarship and for supporting him on his journey at FSU. Jordan says, “ I have the deepest gratitude for the Patrons Association and I can not say ‘Thank You’ enough.”