So a few years ago the composer William Finn got me comps to see his show 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee off-Broadway at 2nd Stage. I had some of the best laughs I’d ever had in the theatre and thought it was one of the funniest, sweetest off-Broadway shows I’d ever seen. When I heard it was going to Broadway I thought to myself, I thought, “Oh what a HORRIBLE idea — this will never run” and it was a big hit and even won a Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical. So basically I’m saying don’t ever trust my opinion about anything.
Well here I am doing it at lovely La Mirada with, I gotta tell you, a Cracker Jack cast. Oh my gosh, what a bunch of YOUNG, incredibly gifted, YOUNG, enthusiastic, YOUNG, risk-taking YOUNG triple threats. I love watching them. When I took the gig, I remember Vice Principal Panch sitting on his ass, co-moderating the Bee and getting a lotta laughs. I guess Jay Reiss [who played the role] couldn’t sing or dance so he was excluded from all the numbers.
Well, sadly, I do sing and um… move well, so Jeff Maynard, our delightful director, and D.J. Gray, our leggy choreographer, who worked on the show on B’way, have added me to many numbers, thus making me actually have to work. I’m all….What’s THAT about????
I thought this would just be an easy way to get my six months of heath insurance.
OK but here’s the thing. I’m having a ball. Jeff and D.J.’s enthusiasm for the show is absolutely contagious and our brilliant Musical Director David O is, Oh so meticulous and doesn’t let us get away with anything, damn him.
Laura Griffith plays Rona, my co-moderator, and we’re having way too much fun at the adults table, stage left. She’s so lovely and also young but compared to the kids she’s an old person too. A lot of our work will be on the spot because we have audience volunteers who also compete in the Bee. Anyone interested can be interviewed before the show. If chosen they will get to sit on stage right (with the YOUNG cast members) and have to spell words we give them. Laura and I will get to play with them a bit. It really should be a ball.
We have had a week of rehearsals now and we start previews in about a week. Will send something to you again around tech, when people start getting tense and there’ll be a LOT to dish about.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, presented by La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment, opens Feb. 5; plays Tues.-Thurs., 7:30 pm; Fri., 8 pm; Sat., 2 & 8 pm; Sun., 2 & 7 pm; through Feb. 21. Tickets: $35-$50. La Mirada Theatre, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada; 562.944.9801, 714.994.6310 or lamiradatheatre.com
