Press Release

Spelling Bee filled with Music & Fun

Date: 7.22.10

COLDWATER, MI—

Two-time Tony award winning musical, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” opens for Tibbits Summer Theatre Thursday, August 5 and runs through August 14.  The show which has taken the country by storm uses audience participation, tuneful songs and a hysterical script to delight audiences.

The musical centers around quirky teens competing in a spelling bee run by even quirkier adults where they learn winning isn’t everything and “losing doesn’t necessarily make you a loser.” Six unpopular adolescents at a middle school vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime where they can finally stand out, and fit in at the same time. Fun songs intertwine the kids’ stories and the suspense of the competition including “My Friend the Dictionary,” “Pandemonium,” “I Speak Six Languages,” “I’m Not  That Smart,” “Spelling Montage,” and the title song.

Adding to the show’s popularity, local audience members are selected to be part of the spelling team at the beginning of the show. Tibbits Artistic Director Charles Burr says, “It may be a local celebrity, a politician, your next door neighbor or maybe you.” In the Broadway production, Julie Andrews was chosen as a volunteer and missed spelling supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

The musical comedy is directed by Raymond Gabica, a 28-year-veteran of the Western Illinois University theatre faculty.  Theatre patrons may remember Gabica directed Tibbits’ recent popular productions of “Hair” and “Little Women.”

As the adolescent spellers, the cast features Timothy Fuchs, Ali Gritz, Greg Pragel, Katie Quigley, Aisling Halpin  all from New York, and Brian P. Sage from Michigan. The adult roles are played by Tiffany Wiesend, Michigan native now from New York, Jared Wietbrock from Georgia and Charles Burr as Vice Principal Douglas Panch.

This production is generously sponsored by Wal Mart Distribution #6043 and Wal Mart Transportation #6843. Tibbits Summer Theatre’s 2010 season is also presented with support from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Audience members have an opportunity to ask questions of cast and crew at a free talkback immediately following the August 7 show.

Tickets prices are $26 to $12 and available at www.Tibbits.org, or by calling or visiting the box office 10 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, and 9 am to noon on Saturday. Rush tickets are available for $10, 10 minutes before show time, cash only, limited number available. Group rates are also available and offer great savings. Contact the box office for details. The musical is scheduled for 8 pm on Aug. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14 with 2 pm matinees on Aug. 5 and 11, 2010.

Tibbits Opera House offers an intimate historic setting, air conditioning, handicap accessibility, and hearing assistance devices. The theatre is located at 14 S. Hanchett St., Coldwater, MI. Call 517-278-6029 or visit www.Tibbits.org.