PRESENTS

Standing OVATION 2017–2018 SEASON

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

Originally produced on Broadway by David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whitman, Patrick Catullo

Barrington Stage Company, Second Stage Theatre

Based upon C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E, an original play by The Farm.

The Barrington Stage Company workshop of THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

was originally co-directed by Michael Barakiva and Rebecca Feldman.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Cast

Chip Tolentino Shawn Pavlik Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere Paris Solsma* Leaf Coneybear Michael Garrison William Barfée Derek Phelps* Marcy Park Katie Dorrell* Olive Ostrovsky Alison Buechler* Rona Lisa Perretti Leslie Stratton Gookin Vice Principal Douglas Panch Greg Romans* Mitch Mahoney Nicholas Root Carl Grubenniere, Ensemble, Jesus Chance Hejde* Olive’s Mom, Leaf’s Mom Paris Solsma* Olive’s Dad Nicholas Root Dan Schwatz Shawn Pavlik

*ACT Debut

Time: Present Day

Setting: This show takes place in a high school gymnasium on the afternoon of the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. It will be

performed in two acts with a 15-minute intermission.

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

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

Standing OVATION 2017–2018 SEASON

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

Originally produced on Broadway by David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whitman, Patrick Catullo

Barrington Stage Company, Second Stage Theatre

Based upon C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E, an original play by The Farm.

The Barrington Stage Company workshop of THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

was originally co-directed by Michael Barakiva and Rebecca Feldman.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Cast

Chip Tolentino Shawn Pavlik Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere Paris Solsma* Leaf Coneybear Michael Garrison William Barfée Derek Phelps* Marcy Park Katie Dorrell* Olive Ostrovsky Alison Buechler* Rona Lisa Perretti Leslie Stratton Gookin Vice Principal Douglas Panch Greg Romans* Mitch Mahoney Nicholas Root Carl Grubenniere, Ensemble, Jesus Chance Hejde* Olive’s Mom, Leaf’s Mom Paris Solsma* Olive’s Dad Nicholas Root Dan Schwatz Shawn Pavlik

*ACT Debut

Time: Present Day

Setting: This show takes place in a high school gymnasium on the afternoon of the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. It will be

performed in two acts with a 15-minute intermission.

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

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

Standing OVATION 2017–2018 SEASON

Musical Numbers ACT 1

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Company and Rona

The Rules Panch, Rona, and Company My Friend the Dictionary Olive, Rona, Panch, and Company Goodbye Rona, Mitch, and Company Pandemonium Company I’m Not That Smart Coneybear and Company Magic Foot Barfée and Company Pandemonium (Reprise) Company Rona Moment Rona Prayer of the Comfort Counselor Mitch and Company

ACT 2 Chip’s Lament Chip Woe Is Me Logainne and Company Spelling Montage Panch and Company I’m Not That Smart (Reprise) Coneybear I Speak Six Languages Marcy and Female Company The I Love You Song Olive and her Parents Woe Is Me (Reprise) Logainne and Mitch Rona Moment #2 Rona Second Olive, Barfée and Company Finale Company

Special Acknowledgements ACT appreciates the generosity of businesses and individuals who help support our productions. Thank you to the following for their support on this show.

Heuss Printing - programs

Production Team Director Susan Hamel Assistant Director John Claes Music Director Charissa Hamel Choreography Tammy Jacobson Production Assistant Dagan Peacock Set Design Robert A. Hamel Set Construction Kevin Lind Set Painting Charissa Hamel, Cast & Crew Light Consultant Matt Tuttle Light Technician John Claes Sound Technician Charissa Hamel Costumes Cheryl Clark Program Lynn Arterburn Photographer John Claes Marketing Doug Arterburn, Lynn Arterburn,

Stacie Bendixen, Sharon Dallmann, Adam Haselhuhn, Nicole Titus, Rebekah Tuttle, Barb Wagner

Logo Design Nicole Titus

2017 - 2018 Board of Directors President - Stacie Bendixen

President Elect - James Machamer Past President - Adam Haselhuhn

Matthew Breaux Scott Nielsen Nicole Titus Susan Casber Becky Plager Whitney Welp Troy Gould Tammy Sposeto Al Witte

Valerie Stratton

Mailing Address: PO Box 122, Ankeny, Iowa 50023 Website: www.ankenycommunitytheatre.com

Email: information@ankenycommunitytheatre.com Camp: camp@ankenycommunitytheatre.com

Standing OVATION 2017–2018 SEASON

Musical Numbers ACT 1

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Company and Rona

The Rules Panch, Rona, and Company My Friend the Dictionary Olive, Rona, Panch, and Company Goodbye Rona, Mitch, and Company Pandemonium Company I’m Not That Smart Coneybear and Company Magic Foot Barfée and Company Pandemonium (Reprise) Company Rona Moment Rona Prayer of the Comfort Counselor Mitch and Company

ACT 2 Chip’s Lament Chip Woe Is Me Logainne and Company Spelling Montage Panch and Company I’m Not That Smart (Reprise) Coneybear I Speak Six Languages Marcy and Female Company The I Love You Song Olive and her Parents Woe Is Me (Reprise) Logainne and Mitch Rona Moment #2 Rona Second Olive, Barfée and Company Finale Company

Special Acknowledgements ACT appreciates the generosity of businesses and individuals who help support our productions. Thank you to the following for their support on this show.

Heuss Printing - programs

Production Team Director Susan Hamel Assistant Director John Claes Music Director Charissa Hamel Choreography Tammy Jacobson Production Assistant Dagan Peacock Set Design Robert A. Hamel Set Construction Kevin Lind Set Painting Charissa Hamel, Cast & Crew Light Consultant Matt Tuttle Light Technician John Claes Sound Technician Charissa Hamel Costumes Cheryl Clark Program Lynn Arterburn Photographer John Claes Marketing Doug Arterburn, Lynn Arterburn,

Stacie Bendixen, Sharon Dallmann, Adam Haselhuhn, Nicole Titus, Rebekah Tuttle, Barb Wagner

Logo Design Nicole Titus

2017 - 2018 Board of Directors President - Stacie Bendixen

President Elect - James Machamer Past President - Adam Haselhuhn

Matthew Breaux Scott Nielsen Nicole Titus Susan Casber Becky Plager Whitney Welp Troy Gould Tammy Sposeto Al Witte

Valerie Stratton

Mailing Address: PO Box 122, Ankeny, Iowa 50023 Website: www.ankenycommunitytheatre.com

Email: information@ankenycommunitytheatre.com Camp: camp@ankenycommunitytheatre.com

Standing OVATION 2017–2018 SEASON

Cast BiographiesAlison Buechler (Olive Ostrovsky) was last seen in The Des Moines Playhouse production of The Music Man. Her favorite roles have been as Logainne “Schwartzy” (The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee) at Buena Vista University and Sharpay Evans (High School Musical) at Okoboji Community Theatre. Her hobbies include biking, jogging, playing piano and ukulele, and composing. Alison is a Service Banker II at Bank of the West and owns Buechler Vocal Studio. “I am thrilled to be making my debut at ACT and thank my family and friends for their love and support!”

Katie Dorrell (Marcy Park) is a speech/drama teacher for the West Des Moines Community Schools and teaches drama classes at the Des Moines Playhouse. She made her Des Moines theater debut as an Oompa-Loompa in the Des Moines Playhouse production of Willy Wonka. Since then, she has appeared in other shows at the Playhouse, ACTORS, the Urbandale Community Theatre, and Epic Productions. She was nominated for a Playhouse Dionysus Award for her role as Aunt Bea in Ramona Quimby at the Kate Goldman Theatre.

Michael Garrison (Leaf Coneybear) is appearing in his ninth show at ACT. He has appeared at Newton Community Theatre and Knoxville Community Theatre. This past summer, Michael appeared in the Des Moines Playhouse’s The Music Man and in Holes at the Kate Goldman Children’s Theatre. He enjoys karaoke, video games, and watching movies. He is employed with Redbox.

Leslie Stratton Gookin (Rona Lisa Perretti) last performed on our stage in Funny Girl when she was in 9thgrade. She has performed in various productions from middle school through college. Leslie has been employed as a drama teacher at Ankeny Centennial High School for the past four years. She enjoys traveling, cooking, and playing games.

Chance Hejde (Carl Grubenniere, Ensemble, Jesus) is making his ACT debut but is certainly no stranger to the stage. His favorite roles include: Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, Sebastian in The Little Mermaid, Chip Tolentino in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Alfred in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Chance enjoys playing volleyball and is a Disney addict! He is a department manager at McDonald's. Chance moved here in October and is loving Des Moines.

Shawn Pavlik (Chip Tolentino, Dan Schwartz) was last seen at ACT as Gary in Musical Chairs. Favorite roles include The Baker in Into the Woods in Marshalltown and Javert in Les Miserables in Newton. Shawn just started a new job as a math teacher at Clarke High School. Interesting fact about Shawn is that he won a spelling bee nine years ago, defeating a 40-time county champion when he returned home for a class reunion.

Derek Phelps (William Barfee) is excited to be making his ACT and Iowa debut. Favorite roles from his time in Nebraska include Huck Finn in Big River, Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast,and Narrator and Prince Herbert in Spamalot. In his free time, Derek enjoys taking long walks, playing piano, and watching a lot of Disney movies. He works at McDonald'sin Ankeny.

Greg Romans (Vice Principal Douglas Panch) is also making his ACT debut. He was in Man of La Mancha back in high school. He owns Yellow Dog Website Design in Ankeny and is a web developer at Broker Dealer Financial Services. Greg has two sons and a wonderful wife who lets him do crazy things like be in a play or go back to college after many years.

Standing OVATION 2017–2018 SEASON

Cast BiographiesAlison Buechler (Olive Ostrovsky) was last seen in The Des Moines Playhouse production of The Music Man. Her favorite roles have been as Logainne “Schwartzy” (The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee) at Buena Vista University and Sharpay Evans (High School Musical) at Okoboji Community Theatre. Her hobbies include biking, jogging, playing piano and ukulele, and composing. Alison is a Service Banker II at Bank of the West and owns Buechler Vocal Studio. “I am thrilled to be making my debut at ACT and thank my family and friends for their love and support!”

Katie Dorrell (Marcy Park) is a speech/drama teacher for the West Des Moines Community Schools and teaches drama classes at the Des Moines Playhouse. She made her Des Moines theater debut as an Oompa-Loompa in the Des Moines Playhouse production of Willy Wonka. Since then, she has appeared in other shows at the Playhouse, ACTORS, the Urbandale Community Theatre, and Epic Productions. She was nominated for a Playhouse Dionysus Award for her role as Aunt Bea in Ramona Quimby at the Kate Goldman Theatre.

Michael Garrison (Leaf Coneybear) is appearing in his ninth show at ACT. He has appeared at Newton Community Theatre and Knoxville Community Theatre. This past summer, Michael appeared in the Des Moines Playhouse’s The Music Man and in Holes at the Kate Goldman Children’s Theatre. He enjoys karaoke, video games, and watching movies. He is employed with Redbox.

Leslie Stratton Gookin (Rona Lisa Perretti) last performed on our stage in Funny Girl when she was in 9thgrade. She has performed in various productions from middle school through college. Leslie has been employed as a drama teacher at Ankeny Centennial High School for the past four years. She enjoys traveling, cooking, and playing games.

Chance Hejde (Carl Grubenniere, Ensemble, Jesus) is making his ACT debut but is certainly no stranger to the stage. His favorite roles include: Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, Sebastian in The Little Mermaid, Chip Tolentino in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Alfred in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Chance enjoys playing volleyball and is a Disney addict! He is a department manager at McDonald's. Chance moved here in October and is loving Des Moines.

Shawn Pavlik (Chip Tolentino, Dan Schwartz) was last seen at ACT as Gary in Musical Chairs. Favorite roles include The Baker in Into the Woods in Marshalltown and Javert in Les Miserables in Newton. Shawn just started a new job as a math teacher at Clarke High School. Interesting fact about Shawn is that he won a spelling bee nine years ago, defeating a 40-time county champion when he returned home for a class reunion.

Derek Phelps (William Barfee) is excited to be making his ACT and Iowa debut. Favorite roles from his time in Nebraska include Huck Finn in Big River, Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast,and Narrator and Prince Herbert in Spamalot. In his free time, Derek enjoys taking long walks, playing piano, and watching a lot of Disney movies. He works at McDonald'sin Ankeny.

Greg Romans (Vice Principal Douglas Panch) is also making his ACT debut. He was in Man of La Mancha back in high school. He owns Yellow Dog Website Design in Ankeny and is a web developer at Broker Dealer Financial Services. Greg has two sons and a wonderful wife who lets him do crazy things like be in a play or go back to college after many years.

Standing OVATION 2017–2018 SEASON

Nicholas Root (Mitch Mahoney, Olive’s Dad) was recently seen as Lawrence Jameson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at ACTORS in Ames. Other credits included El Gallo (The Fantasticks at ACT), The Beast (Beauty and The Beast at Urbandale Community Theatre), and TheSherriff of Nottingham (Robin Hood at the Des Moines Playhouse). Nicholas’s hobbies include karaoke, video games, and photography. He is employed at National Bankruptcy Services.

Paris Solsma (Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere, Olive’s Mom, Leaf’s Mom) is excited to be back in her first show since high school and performing at the University of Iowa. She played Annie Oakley (Annie Get Your Gun) and Sandy (Grease) at Spalding Catholic High School. She enjoys drinking wine, dining out with her new hubby, Jake, boating at Lake Okoboji, and singing/playing the guitar. She is a project manager and part time jingle writer at Lessing-Flynn Advertising in Des Moines.

Susan Hamel (Director) has worked in professional, educational, and community theatres across the country over the past four decades. Graduating with a Theatre Directing degree from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, she has found theatre homes around the Midwest, and as far away as Anchorage, Alaska and Morgantown, West Virginia. More recently, she pursued a wide range of opportunities in many of the dozens of Chicago area theatres. Now relocated to Des Moines, where both of her daughters, Charissa and Thea, work, she is very happy to have landed in such a welcoming community as Ankeny Community Theatre. Some favorite shows include The Producers, 1776, Inherit the Wind, Streetcar Named Desire, Big River, and Man of la Mancha. Putnam will soon join that list. Her offstage credits are often focused on costuming; though she hates actually constructing costumes, she can find almost anything in somebody's closet. She maintains an active relationship with a group of playwrights in the Chicago area, working with them on new play development.

John Claes (Assistant Director) is venturing out from his perfectly natural spot on stage to working behind the scenes for this show. He was recently on stage as Stephen in The Middle of Yesterday. His favorite ACT roles have been George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Jesse Kiplinger in Plaza Suite. John is an instructor for ACT’s Summer Drama Camps and has served two terms on ACT’s Board of Directors. He is the Director of Philanthropy and Corporate Relations at Lutheran Services in Iowa.

Charissa Hamel (Music Director) was seen last season in ACT’s The Very Merry Xmas Carol Holiday Adventure Show and The Fantasticks. She has appeared at Urbandale Community Theatre (Beauty and the Beast), Knoxville Community Theatre (Into the Woods), Des Moines Playhouse (Sister Act), and Graceland University (Doubtand Urinetown the Musical). Charissa has a BA in Music and Vocal Performance and has worked coast to coast doing props, scenic painting, and theatrical makeup. She enjoys playing jazz on her piano. Charissa is a Commercial Associate Underwriter at Nationwide Insurance.

Tammy Jacobson (Choreographer) lives in Winterset, but is originally from Saskatchewan, Canada. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance from Graceland University and performed with the Saskatchewan Express Touring Musical Revue. Tammy is currently a student at the Aveda Institute Des Moines studying Cosmetology. She loves dancing and singing!

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Standing OVATION 2017–2018 SEASON

Nicholas Root (Mitch Mahoney, Olive’s Dad) was recently seen as Lawrence Jameson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at ACTORS in Ames. Other credits included El Gallo (The Fantasticks at ACT), The Beast (Beauty and The Beast at Urbandale Community Theatre), and TheSherriff of Nottingham (Robin Hood at the Des Moines Playhouse). Nicholas’s hobbies include karaoke, video games, and photography. He is employed at National Bankruptcy Services.

Paris Solsma (Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere, Olive’s Mom, Leaf’s Mom) is excited to be back in her first show since high school and performing at the University of Iowa. She played Annie Oakley (Annie Get Your Gun) and Sandy (Grease) at Spalding Catholic High School. She enjoys drinking wine, dining out with her new hubby, Jake, boating at Lake Okoboji, and singing/playing the guitar. She is a project manager and part time jingle writer at Lessing-Flynn Advertising in Des Moines.

Susan Hamel (Director) has worked in professional, educational, and community theatres across the country over the past four decades. Graduating with a Theatre Directing degree from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, she has found theatre homes around the Midwest, and as far away as Anchorage, Alaska and Morgantown, West Virginia. More recently, she pursued a wide range of opportunities in many of the dozens of Chicago area theatres. Now relocated to Des Moines, where both of her daughters, Charissa and Thea, work, she is very happy to have landed in such a welcoming community as Ankeny Community Theatre. Some favorite shows include The Producers, 1776, Inherit the Wind, Streetcar Named Desire, Big River, and Man of la Mancha. Putnam will soon join that list. Her offstage credits are often focused on costuming; though she hates actually constructing costumes, she can find almost anything in somebody's closet. She maintains an active relationship with a group of playwrights in the Chicago area, working with them on new play development.

John Claes (Assistant Director) is venturing out from his perfectly natural spot on stage to working behind the scenes for this show. He was recently on stage as Stephen in The Middle of Yesterday. His favorite ACT roles have been George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Jesse Kiplinger in Plaza Suite. John is an instructor for ACT’s Summer Drama Camps and has served two terms on ACT’s Board of Directors. He is the Director of Philanthropy and Corporate Relations at Lutheran Services in Iowa.

Charissa Hamel (Music Director) was seen last season in ACT’s The Very Merry Xmas Carol Holiday Adventure Show and The Fantasticks. She has appeared at Urbandale Community Theatre (Beauty and the Beast), Knoxville Community Theatre (Into the Woods), Des Moines Playhouse (Sister Act), and Graceland University (Doubtand Urinetown the Musical). Charissa has a BA in Music and Vocal Performance and has worked coast to coast doing props, scenic painting, and theatrical makeup. She enjoys playing jazz on her piano. Charissa is a Commercial Associate Underwriter at Nationwide Insurance.

Tammy Jacobson (Choreographer) lives in Winterset, but is originally from Saskatchewan, Canada. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance from Graceland University and performed with the Saskatchewan Express Touring Musical Revue. Tammy is currently a student at the Aveda Institute Des Moines studying Cosmetology. She loves dancing and singing!

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Standing OVATION 2017–2018 SEASON

Donate to ACT: Become a Member

Benefits of membership: Discounts on season punch cards Access to pre-sales for tickets to the limited-engagement shows in our new Studio Series Invited to Annual Meeting and eligible to vote on ACT business, such as electing board members and selecting an outstanding volunteer award recipient Recognition in each ACT playbill (unless you request to remain anonymous) Donations are fully tax-deductible

Visit www.ankenycommunitytheatre.com to donate online with a credit card. You can also mail a check along with a membership form (also found on our website) to ACT.

2017 - 2018 Contributors Ankeny Community Theatre would like to thank the following individuals, businesses, and foundations for their generous support of our organization.

Current as of September 8, 2017 Director ($500 - $999) Jeanne & Bob Hopson Lois & Dennis Kern Doug Moon Jo & Jerry Reid Kimberly Spitzig Matt Tuttle Barb & Don Wagner

Stage Manager ($250 - $499) Stacie Bendixen Cheryl & Max Clark Vicki & Monte Engh Sharon Hall & Kirk Reeder Adam Haselhuhn Joan & Tom Quinlin

Actor ($100 - $249) Mary & Dave Bendixen James Clack Ellen & Dick Crowe Diana Durlam Mary Jo & Bob Frazier Joan & Ed Gibson Betty & Rex Humke

Mary & Lory Johnson Joyce Jones Truly & Don Judisch Donna Kelling Jan Kerrigan Christopher Lewis Gail & Gene Lucht Doris Merrill Dee Moss Jo Ellen & Gary Nervig Kerry Jo Ostring Georgene & Steve Raver Mary Ann & Bob Scott Carolyn & Don Zuck

Patron ($20 - $99) Kathy & Chris Anthony Rosie Bly Mindy & Matthew Breaux Susan & Scott Casber Anne & John Claes Karen Cross Lois Dickerson Jacquelyn & Jason Duke Karen Dyer

Jean Hance Teri Happe Michael Hollister Karla Kasper Paul Lamb Jim Leeper Vera & Ray Mur Tim Pearson Debbie Rasko Greg Romans Shelley Sanderson Nanci Schaper Marilyn Sharar Linda Schanus Joan Sieczkowski Judith Schnurstein Jackie Vandivier Joanne Ver Huel Evelyn & Creston Vos Whitney Welp Al Witte

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