Welcome to the second show, and first musical, of the 2016-2017 Red Raider Theatre Season!
Competition, not to mention adolescence, brings out the best and the worst in us all. In The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, six supersonic-bright middle school students vie for top honors, love, affection, and their own self-esteem at a regional spelling bee. Only one can emerge victorious, but all come to a deeper understanding of themselves along the way. As they compete, their anxiety, neuroses, and egotism are on full display. But so is their innate empathy, caring, and kindness.
This show appeals to me because it is genuinely funny, has a heart, and turns the idea of winning on its head. Winning doesn't necessarily make you a winner or provide the happiness the characters seek. Sometimes losing doesn't feel so bad after all. At its best, losing can be liberating. At worst, we learn something about ourselves if we remain open to the process. Coming to terms with one's limits and keeping some perspective are important lessons to learn. Success is fickle and we will all suffer our share of losses. The play's brainy, awkward, vulnerable characters resonate with audiences because they are very recognizable as aspects of themselves. Spelling Bee reminds us that even people the world doesn't acknowledge as "winners" have valuable gifts to offer-sometimes more so than those who are judged as traditionally "successful." Ultimately, as many of the characters learn, happiness is found less in achieving victory than in meaningful personal connections and self-reliance. At the end of the day, those lessons might be even more important than spelling.
This show will always be special to me. I've always thought sharing the stage with my students would be fun. Directing and acting in this production has been exciting and challenging, but I couldn't have asked for a better cast to join me on my return to the stage.
To my cast and crew: I am in awe of your continous effort and endless talent. Thank you for sacrificing time with your friends and family to put in the hard work necessary to make the show a success. There aren't enough words to describe the respect and love I have for each of you.
To Jacob: It has been a pleasure working with you on this production. I'm so glad you are a part of our school and our theatre program. I love forward to many more productions with you as the music director.
Now sit back, relax, and enjoy tonight's performance of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee!
Brian Jones
