Tony-award winning musical heads west

Be sure to bring a dictionary with you as Penrith is hosting The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and anyone can participate.

Be sure to bring a dictionary with you as Penrith is hosting The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and anyone can participate.

Penrith Musical Comedy Company is staging the Tony Award-winning production at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre throughout February and it is sure to pack some laughs.

Set in the fictitious town of Putnam, six children compete at a spelling bee only to realise that some things in life are more important than winning.
But the show is not simply one and a half hours of reciting dictionary meanings and fumbling over words. On the contrary, the actors add witty remarks and punchy one-liners, with double meanings also thrown into the mix.

Grant Jones, who plays the character of William Barfee, said audiences would not know what to expect until they experience the show for themselves.

“The show is really interesting and funny, full of double meanings. If you see it twice you will never see the same show,” he said.

Mr Jones has previously watched the production in Sydney, Melbourne and on Broadway.

What really sets this musical apart from other shows though is its ability to incorporate the audience – members can sign up to be a part of the spelling bee, which adds to the spontaneity of the show and tests the actors’ improvisation skills.

The production will be held in the small and intimate Alan Mullins Room, which allows the audience to feel included in the performance.

“In the Broadway performance I was chosen as one of the audience spellers because of my Australian accent. I was introduced as the captain of my Boomerang team and it was hilarious fun,” Mr Jones said.

“In Melbourne I was also chosen from the audience and now that we [Penrith Musical Comedy Company] are performing it, I know what it is like to be on both sides… it is hard to keep a straight face even in rehearsals.”

Fatima Deassis and Melanie Rinaldi direct the production and the talented cast have all had experience in lead roles. Previously, the Penrith Musical Comedy Company has staged classics such as The Sound of Music as well as their latest production, Full Monty. Later in the year, the company will also be performing Joseph and Shout.

This show is the first for the Penrith Musical Comedy Company in 2011.

The company has a proud history in the Penrith region, and continues to produce top quality musical theatre.

Tickets for any of the six shows in February can be purchased from www.jspac.com.au or call the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre on 4723 7600.