UCM Students Going Back to Middle School With Production of ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’

Students in the University of Central Missouri (UCM) Division of Theatre and Dance and Division of Music are headed back to middle school as they present “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” on Oct. 2-5 in the Elliott Student Union Auditorium. 

This coming-of-age musical tells the story of six eccentric middle school spelling bee competitors and the words that define them. Through unexpected twists, catchy music and audience participation, it celebrates individualism, awkward youth and the magic of being who you are. 

“The cast and production team of ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' have been working so hard to capture the humor, warmth and quirkiness of this story,” said Kasey Lynch, Ph.D., production director and visiting assistant professor of Theatre. “I remember participating in the spelling bee when I was a kid. I’m sure many people do, too. Audiences will be transported back to their middle school gymnasium as our spellers attempt to quiet the noise of their personal struggles and spell words like ‘chimerical’ and ‘lugubrious.’ 

“And if you, like me, were eliminated from your middle school bee on the word ‘geography,’ you might even get the chance to come up on stage and redeem yourself. We cannot wait for audiences to join us for an immersive evening of laughter, music and complicated vocabulary at the bee!”

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2-4 and at 2 p.m. Oct. 4-5 at the Elliott Student Union Auditorium on the UCM campus. ASL interpreters will be provided for the Sunday matinee, which is also a Pay-What-You-Can performance. Audiences may pay any amount, $1 or more, for a ticket. 

UCM Theatre and Dance production tickets are free for UCM students who show their UCM student ID. Tickets are also free for active military personnel, veterans and military families upon purchase at the Theatre and Dance Box Office with a military ID. 

Season tickets and Foundation memberships are on sale through Oct. 2. Individual show tickets can be purchased by visiting the UCM Theatre and Dance Office, calling 660-543-4020 or visiting . The office in Martin 113 is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For questions about the production or tickets, call 660-543-4020 or email boxoffice@ucmo.edu.

 

The recommended audience age for this show is 13+ due to content that includes mature language and sexual situations. 

The cast includes Trae Selemaea as Chip Tolentino, Frankie Nelson as Logainne “Schwarzy” SchwartzandGrubenierre, Jadan Zelch as Leaf Coneybear, Audrey Shepard as William Barfee, Taleah Brown as Marcy Park, Lizzy Molina as Olive Ostrovsky, Anna Fletcher as Rona Lisa Peretti, Chris Schilligo as Mitch Mahoney and Jake Collins as Vice Principal Douglas Panch. 

The show also includes a cast of covers: Ayden Christensen covering William Barfee and VP Panch, Kody Paris covering Chip Tolentino and Leaf Coneybear, Alea Ware covering Olive Ostrovsky, Rona Lisa Peretti and Marcy Park, and Claire Groos covering Mitch Mahoney and Logainne “Schwarzy” SchwartzandGrubenierre.

The production team includes Director Kasey Lynch, Musical Director Daniel Doss, Assistant Director and Choreographer Hannah Vath, Assistant Musical Director Sam Panico, Stage Manager Molly Jones, Assistant Stage Manager Addi Carr, Lighting Designer Aleksandra Combs, Sound Designer Brody Lafrentz, Scenic Designer/Technical Director Spencer Musser, Props Designer Madison Keep, Costume/Hair and Makeup Designer Avory Nail, Costume/Hair and Makeup Faculty Mentor Cassie Kay Hoppas, Costume Shop Assistant Deb Hobbs, Assistant Lighting Designer Noah Martin, Sound Board Operator Isaac Kelly, Light Board Operator Nathalia Cordero, Social Media Marketing Specialist Madison Keep, Scene Shop Graduate Assistant Jack Ezell, School of Visual and Performing Arts Events Manager Mackynze Rosas, Office Professional Lars Jepsen and Office Student Assistants Jacob Collins and Madison Keep.

Additional production team members include the Wardrobe Crew: Ty Schroeder, Joe Devero and Jesse Moore; Scene Shop Hires: Sam Fischer, Payton Lawrence, Lizzy Molina, Mayeli Rodriguez, Rosalyn Schuster, Emma Stevens and Rylin Tolle; Lighting Shop Hires: Brody Lafrentz, Ari Kendrick and Gabe Sokolowski; Costume Shop Hires: Josie Hougham, Sage Miller, Avory Nail, Lucy Nutt and Emma Stevens; and Box Office and House Management Team: Ari Kendrick, Payton Lawrence, Lucy Nutt and Raegan Weber.

The band consists of Conductor Daniel Doss on Keyboard 1, Sam Panico on Keyboard 2 and Jack Renfrow on Keyboard 3.

UCM Theatre and Dance has four productions remaining in the 2025-26 “Make ‘em Laugh” season: the UCM Fringe Festival on Oct. 30-Nov. 2, “The Importance of Being Earnest” on Nov. 19-22, “Bus Stop” on Feb. 26-March 1 and “9 to 5” on April 17-19 and April 23-25. 

For more information, contact Ashley Miller-Scully, chair of the Division of Theatre and Dance, at almiller@ucmo.edu or find UCM Theatre and Dance on Facebook and Instagram.

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is licensed by Music Theatre International.