Photo Coverage: Inside the Rehearsal Room with THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
By: Genevieve Rafter Keddy Oct. 29, 2017
Producer Thommie Retter (Billy Elliot The Musical) and Director/Choreographer Ann Cooley (Victor/Victoria (Nat.Tour), The Producers (Nat. Tour), The Will Rogers Follies, ) bring together a team of 21 teen actors for a production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," with additional contributions from writer Anthony Giunta's ("Contest", the movie). BroadwayWorld takes you inside their rehearsal, check out the photos below!
Featured performers include 16-year-old actor Marquise Neal ("Kinky Boots" Original Cast Member), 15-year-old actor Christian Dell'Edera ("A Christmas Story" National Tour) and 15-year-old actress Mabel L'Ecuyer ("Billy Elliot" National Tour). The actors are split in three casts of nine.
Actress/Talent Manager Jody Prusan and Jeremy Dalton will engage audience members with their own spelling bee as the audience arrive at the theatre.
A long-time coach to young talents, Retter aims to keep teenagers active in onstage productions; while in the teen years the number of roles on Broadway fall dramatically, "During this hiatus, Retter Entertainment takes pride in providing educational theater opportunities that keep the kids in practice in front of live audiences, raising their level of talent, preparing them for college entrance exams and, ultimately, a professional career on The Great White Way!" says Thommie Retter.
Joining Retter and Cooley, the creative team includes assistant director Chandler Converse, the music director Joe Baker (Broadway Youth Ensemble), the assistant music director James Harvey, the stage manager Elena Chapman, and the lightning designer Bill Stonehouse.
The show is suitable for children 8 and older. Performances of Retter Entertainment's "The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee" will take place from November 9-12 at the 777 Theatre (777 Eight Avenue between 47th and 48th Streets) with the following schedule: Thursday at 7 pm; Friday at 7 pm; Saturday at 1 pm and 5 pm; Sunday at 1pm and 5 pm. Tickets are priced $ 45.50 and can be purchased at web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/981676 or through www.RetterEntertainment.com.
Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Amelia Firestone, Michelle Moughan, Joey Casali, Christian Dell'Edera, Marquise Neal, Bella Retter and Clara Smith
Amelia Firestone, Chloe Hechter, Michelle Moughan, Clara Smith, Bella Retter, Alya Thackeray and Ezequiel Pujois
Chloe Hechter, Amelia Firestone, Joey Casali, Christian Dell'Edera, Marquise Neal, Bella Retter, Clara Smith, Ginger Gordan and Anthony Allocca
Joey Casali, Amelia Firestone, Margaux Blau, Christian Dell'Edera Bella Retter, Marquise Neal, Clara Smith and Ginger Gordan
Victoria Csatay and Anthony Allocca
Thommie Retter and Marquise Neal
Amelia Firestone, Chloe Hechter, Joey Casali, Zachary Brod, Clara Smith and Alya Thackerary
Ezequiel Pujois, Clara Smith and Mabel L'Ecuyer
Amelia Firestone, Chloe Hechter, Joey Casali, Ezequiel Pujois, Alya Thackeray and Clara Smith
Bella Retter, Ann Cooley (Director/Choreographer) Alya Thackeray, Amelia Firestone and Julia Lipsztein
Mabel L'Ecuyer, Thommie Retter and Ann Cooley
Margaux Blau, Michelle Moughan and Chloe Hechter
Amelia Firestone, Mabel L'Ecuyer and Ginger Gordan
Marquise Neal and Chloe Hechter
Zachary Brod, Chloe Hechter, Joey Casali, Amelia Firestone, Alya Thackeray, Clara Smith and Anthony Allocca
Zachary Brod and Chloe Hechter
Ezequiel Pujois and Marquise Neal
Zachary Brod and Christian Dell'Edera
Joey Casali, Christian Dell'Edera Michelle Moughan, Bella Retter and Clara Smith
Marquise Neal, Joey Casali, Ann Cooley and Bella Retter
Joey Casali, Bella Retter and Marquise Neal
Joey Casali, Bella Retter and Marquise Neal
Bella Retter and Samantha Kelleher
Amelia Firestone, Zachary Brod, Margaux Blau, Joey Casali, Samantha Kelleher and Julia Lipsztein
Amelia Firestone, Zachary Brod, Margaux Blau, Joey Casali, Samantha Kelleher and Alya Thackeray
Ann Cooley and Samantha Kelleher
Samantha Kelleher, Mabel L'Ecuyer and Anthony Allocca
James Harvey (Assistant Music Director)
Anthony Allocca
Amelia Firestone, Christian Dell'Edera, Joey Casali, Michelle Moughan, Margaux Blau, Bella Retter, Clara Smith, Alya Thackeray, Marquise Neal, Giner Gordan, Ezequiel Pujois and Anthony Allocca
Mabel L'Ecuyer
Alya Thackeray
Clara Smith
Ginger Gordan
Christian Dell'Edera, Ezequiel Pujois, Zachary Brod, Margaux Blau, Amelia Firestone, Clara Smith, Marquise Neal, Mabel L'Ecuyer, Bella Retter, Julia Lipsztein, Anthony Allocca, Ginger Gordan, Victoria Csatay, Joey Casali, Michelle Moughan, Chloe Hechter and Alya Thackeray
James Harvey
Marquise Neal and Ezequiel Pujois
James Harvey, Thommie Retter, Ann Cooley and Elena Chapman
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