CU to present 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' Oct. 8-11

CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY (09/21/2015)(readMedia)-- Campbellsville University's theater department will be performing the musical "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" Oct. 8-11 in the Russ Mobley Theater of the Alumni Building.

The Thursday and Saturday shows will be at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" is a musical comedy that includes an eclectic group of students who fight for the title of Spelling Bee Champion while learning that winning is not everything.

Each character candidly discloses amusing and touching stories from their home life.

Music and lyrics are by William Finn, and the book was written by Rachel Sheinkin. The play was conceived by Rebecca Feldman with additional material by Jay Reiss.

Staci Skiles Schaum, assistant to the director of theater at Campbellsville University, said, "Each year the department's faculty seeks to choose productions that are a good fit for the strengths of our majors and minors while also providing new challenges and unique opportunities for both actors and technicians."

She said "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" is unique in that it was developed in the United States within the last 15 years. Development began at the Barrington Stage Company in The Berkshires of Western Massachusetts in 2004.

The musical moved to Off-Broadway in early 2005 and then quickly transitioned to Broadway opening on April 15, 2005.

The cast includes Déja Thompson of Adairville, Ky., as Chip Tolentino; Malorie Byrne of Campbellsville, Ky., as Logainne Schwartzandgrunenierre (fondly referred to as Schwartzy); Tyler Litton of Hodgenville, Ky., as Leaf Coneybear; Jeremiah Jackson of Campbellsville, Ky., as William Barfee; Diandra Sallee of Nicholasville, Ky., as Marcy Park; Blair Lamb of Campbellsville, Ky., as Olive Ostrovsky; Sarah Durham of Campbellsville, Ky., as Rona Lisa Peretti; Les Chadwick of Campbellsville, Ky., as Vice Principal Douglas Panch; and Nathan Cahall of Oneida, Ky., as Mitch Mahoney.

General admission tickets are $10; seniors (65 and over) are $7; and children (12 and under) are $5.

If there are any questions and to make reservations, call (270) 789-5266 or email at theater@campbellsville.edu

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.

-30-