Lisa Peretti News

I haven't posted a story yet this year because I've been busy. For the past two weeks, I've been immersed in learning the flute part to the score of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which concludes a brief four-day, five-show run this afternoon at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts. Spelling Bee is a great show for improv artists, and being in the pit for rehearsals and every show, I am able to see how the actors handle the show's free structure, which allows for improvisation. If you've seen the show, you know what I'm talking about. Spelling Bee is being staged by YA4Ever, the alumni group of Young Artists Ensemble. To help out on this show, writer/director Michael Fischer agreed to play the part of Vice Principal Douglas Panch, the contest's 'word pronouncer.' We talked to Michael after a particularly riotous Saturday matinee performance.

Back by popular demand, the sumptuously talented Leanne Borghesi returns to Feinstein's at the Nikko with an encore performance of her solo show, LUSH, for one performance only - tonight, October 16 at 8 p.m. Directed by Nicolas Minas, LUSH takes audiences on an intoxicating comedic odyssey through lust, love and loss. Borghesi mixes us an up-tempo elixir of lounge, Latin, jazz and Broadway, with a special tribute to Shirley Bassey and the hits of Eartha Kitt and Rosemary Clooney. With Graham Sobelman leading her hot three-piece band, LUSH features Daniel Fabricant on bass and Roberta Drake on drums. Tickets for Leanne Borghesi range in price from $25- $40 and are on-sale now and available by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

There's a very good chance that Belmont University musical theater student Grace Williams is going through some separation anxiety this week. Along with her castmastes and the creative team, she bade farewell to Gypsy – the stunning revival of the iconic Broadway musical mounted by Franklin-based Studio Tenn – on Sunday after a run that drew unanimous acclaim from the critics and inspired audience accolades throughout the run. As a member of the show's ensemble, Grace played a variety of roles in director Matt Logan's imaginative staging of the show.

Back by popular demand, the sumptuously talented Leanne Borghesi returns to Feinstein's at the Nikko with an encore performance of her solo show, LUSH, for one performance only - Friday, October 16 at 8 p.m. Directed by Nicolas Minas, LUSH takes audiences on an intoxicating comedic odyssey through lust, love and loss. Borghesi mixes us an up-tempo elixir of lounge, Latin, jazz and Broadway, with a special tribute to Shirley Bassey and the hits of Eartha Kitt and Rosemary Clooney. With Graham Sobelman leading her hot three-piece band, LUSH features Daniel Fabricant on bass and Roberta Drake on drums. Tickets for Leanne Borghesi range in price from $25- $40 and are on-sale now and available by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

Good Day Philadelphia got into the spirit of Broadway today when they held their own The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee! The crew of Good Day Philadelphia got together with the cast of the Bucks County Playhouse production to share some laughs and show off their amazing spelling skills. Can you spell F-U-N?

Bucks County Playhouse presents the uproarious Tony Award-winning musical THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal below!

Bucks County Playhouse presents the uproarious Tony Award-winning musical THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. The company just finished a rigorous two-week rehearsal schedule in preparation for their Bucks County Playhouse stage debut tonight, August 14th. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal below!

What would happen if one were to switch the first few letters of "amazing" to form a new, exciting word that only certain minds could quickly figure out? Actually, who cares! As long as each of you knows the word's definition and what it implies, there can only be synonyms of the word used to describe Monomoy Theatre's current production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Having never before seen a production of this rather well-known comedy of a musical, letting Monomoy give me a very impressive and lasting first impression was a wonderful was an absolute privilege; I didn't expect anything less from the group, as the amount of talent on stage makes every play and musical performed wonderful, to say the least. Spelling Bee is really something quite special, as such a simple idea for a plot is taken and transformed, through music and rather peculiar characters, into something that will keep audiences laughing for an evening; it is a production that will not have anyone spelling "regret."

Bucks County Playhouse presents the uproarious Tony Award-winning musical THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. The company began their rigorous two-week rehearsal schedule this week in preparation for their Bucks County Playhouse stage debut August 14th. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal below!

Drama Desk Award winner and Drama League nominee Lisa Howard, who is currently earning rave reviews starring as Jenny Steinberg in Broadway's 'It Shoulda Been You', is the final special guest performer to join Tim Realbuto in his autobiographical piece 'Wunderkind' at The New York Musical Theatre Festival. Ms. Howard is also well known for her portrayal of Rona Lisa Peretti in the original Broadway cast of 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'. Her numerous other Broadway credits include Lincoln Center's 'South Pacific'; '9 to 5'; and 'Priscilla Queen of the Desert'. On television, she appeared on ABC's 'Ugly Betty', but is perhaps most known to film audiences as Siobahn in 'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2.' Next up, she will star as Sylvia in director Joseph Wartnerchaney 's thriller 'Decay' for Ghost Orchid Films.

BroadwayWorld has decided to take you back to the bee to look back at the extremely talented original cast as we prepare for the one-night only reunion!

No matter how well you know a show - how easily you can recall plot points or parrot dialogue - it's sometime good to revisit a musical even if you've seen it countless times. Oftentimes it rekindles your love for a show or, hell, it just reminds you how much fun you have every time you see a new revival. So, kudos to director Josh Waldrep and his merry band of mischief makers who bring The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee to the stage to conclude Circle Players' 65th season.

With so many new productions bowing this week (hence, the Friday 5 on Thursday), the spotlight shines first on Austin Olive and Amie Lara from the cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, directed by the talented Joshua Waldrep, and opening tonight at Pearl Cohn Comprehensive High School. It's the last production of the 2014-15 - that's the 65th year - season of Circle Players, the oldest community theatre troupe in Middle Tennessee.

On Monday, May 18th, the Theater People Podcast welcomes IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU star Lisa Howard. Lisa made her Broadway debut as Rona Lisa Peretti in the 2006 Tony nominated production of 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. From there she has been seen on Broadway in SOUTH PACIFIC, PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, and 9 TO 5. In IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU, Howard has received glowing notices and a Drama Desk Award nomination for her turn as Jenny, older sister of the Bride who's gone out of her way to plan the perfect wedding. Despite acting alongside Broadway favorites like Tyne Daly, Harriet Harris, and Sierra Boggess, much has been made of IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU being a star making vehicle for Howard. 

An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime in the hilarious musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The Nevada Conservatory Theatre's production at the Judy Bayley Theatre finishes its run May 7-10 at the Judy Bayley Theatre.

Come spell with us! Opening on Thursday April 30th, 2015 and running through Sunday May 17th is the hilarious spelling musical that tests how smart are the Putnam kids. This teen production, featuring local actors ages 12-19, is directed by long-time children's director Lisa Barton. She brings forth a top-notch group of young actors for audiences to laugh, sing, and spell with!

Tony and Emmy Award winner Tyne Daly, Tony Award winner Harriet Harris, Sierra Boggess and Lisa Howard head an outstanding cast in It Shoulda Been You, the hilarious and heartwarming new musical comedy that proves when it comes to wedding day insanity, everything is relative. It Shoulda Been You, which had a sold-out premiere at New Jersey's George Street Playhouse, officially opens tonight, April 14, 2015 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Scroll down to learn more about the cast, plus watch interviews with the company!

The ability to spell is the unlikely subject of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, a 2005 Broadway musical by William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin now playing to hysterical audiences at the 150-seat Brisbane Arts Theatre.

As I walked into a performance of Kensington's 'Spelling Bee,' I was admittedly unnerved by the show's conspicuously simple scenic design. After all, the production literally takes place in what looks like a school gymnasium with a hastily put-together stage. Mere moments into the show, however, I realized that I had stepped into one of the most authentic, genuine, and shrewd stagings of 'Spelling Bee' to date.

Intrepid Shakespeare Company closes its season with this winning production of the TONY Award and the Drama Desk Award winning musical for Best Book, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which has charmed audiences across the country with its effortless wit and humor. Featuring a fast-paced wildly funny and touching book by Rachel Sheinkin and a truly fresh and vibrant score by William Finn, this bee is one unforgettable experience.