The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

The MAC Players at the Middletown Arts Center
present

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Music and Lyrics by WILLIAM FINN
Book by RACHEL SHEINKIN
Conceived by REBECCA FELDMAN

Additional Material by JAY REISS
Originally Directed on Broadway by JAMES LAPINE

Director KATE CORDARO
Musical Director NICK JUPINKA
Choreographer SAMANTHA AMARAL

Showtimes

Fri, Feb 27 at 7 pm | Sat, Feb 28 at 7 pm | Sun, Mar 1 at 2 pm
Fri, Mar 6 at 7 pm | Sat, Mar 7 at 7 pm | Sun, Mar 8 at 2 pm

About The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves a champion! At least the losers get a juice box. The play is PG 13 rated for adult language and humor.

Meet the Cast

JULIAN ALEJANDRO BARO (William Barfée) is excited to return to the stage with The MAC Players in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Julian most recently appeared with The MAC Players as Bobby Strong in Urinetown, a role that blended sharp comedy with heart and conviction. Additional credits include Man 2 (Songs for a New World with Fredericktowne Players); Mitch Mahoney (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with American University Players) and Historian/Prince Herbert/Not Dead Fred (Spamalot with the Edison High School Drama Club).

Julian is thrilled to revisit Spelling Bee from a new angle and embrace Barfée’s eccentric brilliance, lightning-fast wit, and iconic “magic foot” that never quits. A longtime theater enthusiast, he loves character-driven storytelling, musical and improvisational comedy, and ensemble work.

Offstage, Julian is passionate about public service and community engagement—interests that inform the empathy and joy he brings to his performances. He thanks the cast, creative team, friends, and family for their continued support. To “the kids’ table”: we did it—now it’s time to work on the Subaru…see y’all at Hooligans!

RACH PHELAN (Olive Ostrovsky) is so excited to be back at the MAC in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee! Previous MAC credits include Betty Jean (The Marvelous Wonderettes), Sour Kangaroo (Seussical), Pontius Pilate (Jesus Christ Superstar), Penelope Pennywise (Urinetown) and Assistant Director for The Drowsy Chaperone. Other favorite credits include Tracy Turnblad (Hairspray, Algonquin Arts Theatre), Meg March (Little Women, Holmdel Theatre Company), Sister Mary Amnesia (Nunsense, Centenary Stage Company), Mayor Maggie (Bat Boy, Catalyst Theatre Company) and Pearl Krabs (The SpongeBob Musical, The Premiere Theatre Company). She has also been a permanent cast member of Let’s Broadway NYC for 10 years. Thank you to this un-BEE-lievable cast, crew and staff! A special shout-out to Julian, her best friend of 14 years, whom she’s grateful to share the stage with again. And to her amazing family and boyfriend — I love you all so much. Instagram: @itsrachphelan

ZOE SEITZ (Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, “Schwartzy”) is thrilled to be making her MAC debut in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee! Getting to tell the complex stories of this group of fabulous weirdos alongside such brilliant artists has been a true pleasure and a gift. Zoe is a graduate of Emerson College with a BFA in Comedic Arts. Past credits include Princess Fiona (Shrek The Musical), Fruma Sarah (Fiddler on the Roof), Bridgette (Bring It On), Gertrude (Seussical) and many more Thank you to my family, friends and all the people in my life who support my wildest dreams. To my Spelling Bee family… I love you guys so much. Thank you to the entire team for trusting me to bring this sweet, smart girl to life. Playing Logainne has meant so much to me, and I’ll treasure this experience forever. We did it!

GLORIA LICONA KLEIN (Marcy Park) is excited to be back for her second show with The MAC Players, appearing as Marcy Park in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee! Previous productions include Godspell (Peggy, Brookdale PAC), SpongeBob the Musical (Ensemble, Premier Theater Company) and Urinetown (Little Sally, MAC Players). She is honored to be part of such a wonderfully bizarre show and hopes it helps even one audience member feel a little more comfortable being who they truly are.

ARRON LITTLE (Leaf Coneybear) is excited to appear in his first production with The MAC Players! Previous theatre credits include Rent (Collins), A Chorus Line (Paul), You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Schroeder), Something Rotten! (Nigel Bottom) and Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 (Dolokhov). He would like to thank this phenomenal cast, director and production staff for their hard work, as well as his family and friends for their continued support. Enjoy the show!

CHARLES THOMAS HUGHES (Chip Tolentino) is unbelievably excited to make his debut with The MAC Players as Chip! This show is a dream come true, and he couldn’t be happier. Other appearances include The Wizard of Oz (Scarecrow), White Christmas (Ezekiel) and Fiddler on the Roof (Fiddler) at the Algonquin Theatre, as well as Peter and the Starcatcher (Peter) with Phoenix Productions in Red Bank. He would like to thank the cast and crew for their tremendous support throughout the rehearsal process, and he sends all the love in the world to his family and friends.

CLINT GILFILLAN (Douglas Panch) is thrilled to return to the MAC stage after previously appearing as Corny Collins in Hairspray. He was most recently seen doing the Time Warp in The Rocky Horror Show at Algonquin Arts Theatre. Endless thanks to the fantastic cast, crew and creative team — and to his partner and family for their unwavering love and support.

CATE PASTERCHICK (Rona Lisa Peretti) is excited to be playing Rona in her first production with the MAC! She is a 2023 graduate of Kutztown University, where she earned a B.A. in Professional Writing with a minor in Musical Theatre. Some of her favorite roles include Sally Bowles (Cabaret), Veronica Sawyer (Heathers), Sophie Sheridan (Mamma Mia!) and Susan (tick, tick…BOOM!). Cate is pursuing a career in television screenwriting, but in her free time she enjoys tending her vegetable garden, writing her blog,and analyzing everyone’s astrological signs. She sends endless thanks to her loved ones and to the new family she has made here at the MAC. It has been a very nice beginning. She hopes you enjoy the show!

ZACHARY CONNER (Mitch Mahoney) is thrilled to be making his debut with The MAC Players! After leaving the big city following a pursuit of the “impossible dream,” Zach has since been seen on stages around New Jersey here and there. Two truths and a lie: Zach can lift over 300 pounds, has skydived twice in his life and appears in an episode of the ill-fated television show The Carrie Diaries. Much love and thanks to his Bearded Beauty and his terrifyingly cute Frog Dog.

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com