If you've ever wanted to compete for a spelling bee championship, you may get your chance when ISU Theatre presents "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee."
The Tony Award-winning musical follows a group of wonderfully unique and impassioned adolescents -- and audience participants -- in a spelling competition. The joyful night of comedy and quirk features a fun and feisty score, and celebrates the pursuit of victory and the gift of being true to oneself. This musical contains adult content.
"This show is wacky and out there in the best way," said Claire Thede, who plays the role of a spelling bee participant. "It is absolutely hilarious while still hitting home with touching moments."
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, March 6-8, and 2 p.m Sunday, March 9, in Fisher Theater. All tickets are general admission ($25 for adults, free for youth and ISU students). Tickets can be purchased online via Ticketmaster, through the Iowa State Center ticket office (Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.) or at the door. Free youth and student tickets can be obtained at the door or in advance through the Iowa State Center ticket office.
Guest artist Mary Jo DuPrey returns
Mary Jo DuPrey, award-winning Los Angeles theater director and a renowned vocal coach, is in residence at Iowa State this semester and directs the show. DuPrey returns to Iowa State after directing ISU Theatre’s "Night of the Living Dead! The Musical!" in 2022.
DuPrey was the personal touring voice teacher for singer and songwriter Jon Bon Jovi and coached Daveed Diggs for his Tony Award-winning Broadway performance in "Hamilton." A faculty member at UCLA from 2006 to 2017, DuPrey has directed and acted in countless plays and musicals.
"Watching students grow in terms of their acting and their vocal capabilities -- some of the students who were underclassmen are now seniors -- and you can see the work they've acquired," she said. "It's also a whole slew of new people. It's a fun mix. I'm just having such a great time with the cast. The students are all so hardworking and positive and playful and dedicated to getting the result."
Thede is working with DuPrey for the second time.
"In the last two years, I have carried so much she taught me on all the other projects I've been part of since then," Thede said. "Even though I worked with her so closely before, she is always full of surprises. She brings an energy to the space that makes us want to work hard while also making the rehearsal room feel like a playground for an actor."
An immersive, delightful experience
Before each show, the cast and creative team will interview audience members interested in participating on stage. DuPrey said participating in "Spelling Bee" becomes a lifelong memory for some people.
"It's so funny and so delightful," Duprey said. "People have had this experience and talked about it for years with their friends -- 'You remember when we went to see that show and you ended up in the show?'"
