American Stage in the Park Opens THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, 4/24

American Stage Theatre Company opens the 28th annual American Stage in the Park with the musical production of THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, running April 24, 2013 and closing May 26, 2013. THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is a musical comedy sure to get the audience laughing. This production was conceived by Rebecca Feldman with music and lyrics by William Finn, a book by Rachel Sheinkin and additional material by Jay Reiss. The core of this play centers on a fictional spelling bee set in a geographically ambiguous Putnam Valley High School with six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves. These kids eventually learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser. THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is a hilarious tale of overachievers' angst chronicling the experience of six adolescent outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. The show's Tony Award winning creative team has created the unlikeliest of hit musicals about the unlikeliest of heroes: a quirky yet charming cast of outsiders for whom a spelling bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time.

This musical has 9 cast members plus a four-piece band. There are three cast members to make their debut at American Stage; Caitlin Longstreet (Logainne Schwartzandgrunenierre - "Schwartzy"), Benjamin S. Ptashinsky* (William Barfee) and Buce Jones (Mitch Mahoney).

American Stage is excited to bring many familiar faces back to stage at Park. Two of whom appeared in last year's American Stage in the Park's production of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW: Alison Burns* (Olive Ostrovsky) is returning to American Stage in her third Park show after playing Janet Weiss in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW and Matthew McGee* (Vice Principal Douglas Panch) who is well known by Bay area audiences for his performances at American Stage Theatre Company, freeFall Theatre Company, The Show Palace Dinner Theatre, Suncoast Aids Theatre Project (SATP) and St. Pete Opera Company. He recently won a Jeff Norton Award for "Best Leading Actor in a Musical" for his performance in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW last year. Other recurring actors include; Dick Baker (Chip Tolentino) and Laura Hodos* (Rono Lisa Peretti) both of whom were in HAIR, Alison Lea Bender (Marcy Park) and Nick Cearley* (Leaf Coneybear).

Steven Flaa* will be the Director for his seventh production here at American Stage and also acting as the Choreographer. He previously directed LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and ALTAR BOYZ in the Park, and SOUVENIR and three productions of THE BIG BANG on the Mainstage. This is the third time he has directed THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. He is also an Equity actor for over 25 years.

Michael Raabe is the Music Director for the production, Tom Hansen is the Scenic and Lighting Designer, and Jerid Fox is the Property Designer and Set Dresser. Costume Designers are Kathy and Mike Buck. Our Production Stage Manager, Garry Allan Breul* will be celebrating his tenth American Stage in the Park.

THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE will be performed at Demens Landing Park, located on the corner of 1st Avenue South and Bayshore Boulevard SE in downtown St. Petersburg, FL. Performances will be held evenings Wednesday through Sunday at 8pM. Gates open at 6 pm and Will Call opens at 5:30 pm. Full performance time and ticket prices follow. We are also excited to continue our theme nights at Park!

This year's American Stage in the Park will have select audience members to take part in the production. We will randomly select from the audience for American Stage Theatre in the Park's production of THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BE each night.

Special theme nights that will be celebrated at THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE performances include:

PETS IN THE PARK NIGHT
Bring your pets out on any of these nights. Treat them to a fun night out. Pets FREE.
Sundays, April 28, May 5 & 12

BUY LOCAL NIGHT with LOCALSHOPS1
Enjoy live theatre outdoors while learning about all of the great local businesses in your area! Meet and Mingle.
Saturday, May 4
First 100 at the door get a free discount shopping card, valid at hundreds of LocalShops1 businesses throughout Tampa Bay! The 1Card is valued at $20. Also: Swag, raffles and exhibits from 20 unique shops, restaurants and service providers, all locally owned & independent!

CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG NIGHT
Wednesday, May 8

HOSPITALITY NIGHT
Thursday, May 9

tbt* NIGHT
Read about all the BUZZ!
Thursday, May 16

PRIDE NIGHT
Bee Fun, Bee Yourself!
Friday, May 17

BICYCLE NIGHT
ABC Bicycles is our AFTER HOURS Sponsor. Ride out to Demens Landing Park.
Sunday, May 19

EDUCATORS NIGHT
Friday, May 24

Tampa Awards - Live Stats

Best Musical - Top 3

1. INTO THE WOODS (St. Petersburg College Theater)

16.7% of votes

2. 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL (USF Theatre)

8.9% of votes

3. ANYTHING GOES (The Missing Piece Theatre)

7.7% of votes

Vote Now!