Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Ages: 14 and up
Directed by Eric Feltes
Music Directed by River Stanford
Audience members will adore the scruffy yet lovable group of
youngsters all competing in this “cut-throat” comedy about love,
spelling, and the true meaning of the word “winner”. Join us for a
night of spectacular music, improvisation, and audience interaction.
Rehearsals Begin: May 29-31 from 6pm-8pm
June 4th from 6pm-9pm, June 5th from 9am-1pm
Performs: June 20-23 at 7pm at Plank Jr. High
Tickets: $7 Adults; $5 Students/Seniors
Monologue #1 (Olive Ostrovsky):
Excuse me, ma’am? Could you not sit in that seat? I saved that chair for my dad, and it might take
him a while but when he gets here, that’s his chair. ‘Cause my mother’s in an ashram in India. I
saved a chair for her too, but it’s merely symbolic, as daily she cleanses herself in the ganges. And I
live in a house where there’s an oversized dictionary that I read as a girl on the toilet. I love my
dictionary! And I love the indented border. Yes, the words in the dictionary are the friends that I’ll
have forever, even more than the friends I have made in school. Oh, how I love my dictionary!
Monologue #2 (Leaf Coneybear):
(On the phone) Hello, Leaf speaking. Uh huh. Uh huh. You’re kidding? I’m gonna represent the
Basin in the bee? Wow, I can’t believe it. (To family) Mom, Dad, Marigold, Brook, Pinecone, Raisin,
Landscape, Paul, you’re all not going to believe this! I made the county finals in the spelling bee! Oh,
I know I came in third, but they just called and said the person who came in first has to go to their bat
mitzvah and the person who came in second . . . has to attend the bat mitzvah, so they want me to do
it! (To audience) I’m not that smart. My siblings have been telling me that for years, that I’m not
smart. But guess what, you know what? Guess what! I think I could still win this thing!
Choose One of the Four Music Selections:
#7 Prayer of the Comfort Counselor: Measure 2-28 (Female or Male)
#9 Chip's Lament: Measure 57-109 (Male)
#12 I Speak 6 Languages: Measure 36-64 (Female)
#14 The I Love You Song: Measure 74-91 (Female or Male)
AYP
Ages: 13 and up
Written by Brian Brems and Michael Leali
Directed by Cori Veverka
This Limelight original production by Brian Brems &
Michael Leali is a comedic drama about the conflict
that arises when a North Carolina public high school
faces a possible transition to privately-operated
charter school. The teachers, administrators, and students must choose sides as they attempt to understand
and confront their institution's virtues, flaws, and overall value as definitions of traditional education change.
Rehearsals begin June 5th from 4pm-7pm
Performs: July 11-14 at 7pm at Plank Jr. High
Tickets: $7 Adults; $5 Students/Seniors
Monologue #1 (BOYD)
In case you’re still skeptical of Pioneer’s methods, I can tell you that these educational
practices have been successful for even someone without your professional training. I have
been implementing Pioneer’s practices in my own home, where I personally home-school my
own children. If they get left behind by their education, I have no one to blame but myself.
That’s why the stakes are so high for me. I believe in Andrew Johnson High School, but I
believe that Pioneer and other companies like it are the future of education in this country,
because, plain and simple, competition, innovation, and academic achievement are what we
live by. Something I tell to all the schools I visit, and I’ve been all over, just in the past week.
I was in Orlando, I was in Dallas, I was in Denver just yesterday. The same thing I told them,
I’ll tell you now. Pioneer is the best way forward because it provides the opportunity to create
your own educational destiny. I don’t want to see anyone get left behind. Pioneer makes
sure that won’t happen. Thank you for your time, and I’ll see you at lunch. I believe it’s
chicken cordon bleu. Thanks.
Monologue #2 (BAILEY)
I know that the two of you have a lot of fun at my expense. Hilarious, look at the cliché art
teacher who’s a vegan and in touch with nature. Look at me, I’m even wearing a scarf today.
When it’s seventy degrees. Maybe I am a cliché, but this is who I am. And at home, maybe
I’m a cliché there, too. But maybe at home I’m not. You don’t know. Maybe when I’m not here
I play in an intramural lacrosse league. Maybe at home I watch a lot of American Idol because
it is actually pretty entertaining. And maybe I’m afraid to go in my basement because the light
broke two weeks ago and I can’t go down to change it. But you’ll never know, because you’ll
never see me outside of here. I’ll finish my lunch in the studio.
Monologue #3 (MEGHAN)
My name is Meghan Buchanan and I am a junior here at Andrew Johnson High School. I am
a member of the drama club, and perform in the fall play every year. I am in the school band,
and I play percussion. I also play third base on the varsity softball team, which went to
sectionals last year. Somewhere in there, I also find time to do all my homework and get
straight As. Did you know that after-school activities make students better learners?
According to collegeboard.com, extracurricular activities can “show that you are able to make
a meaningful contribution to something, maintain a long-term commitment, and manage your
time and priorities.” All of those qualities are ones I know I’ll need when I go to college. As a
prospective college student, I’m very concerned about my test scores. I know that without my
extracurricular activities, I wouldn’t have been able to score 1420 on my SAT. The skills I
learn after school, in the theater, the music, or on the diamond, help me to be the best me I
can be. I’ve done a lot of reading about charter schools, and I have found that one of the first
things to be cut at charters is after school activities. If Pioneer takes over Andrew Johnson
high school, then you can probably say goodbye to drama, band, and sports. Not to mention
the twenty-six other student organizations that I don’t have time to be a part of. These clubs
and groups are just as much a part of high school as reading, math, and science. They help
students to grow, to understand more about themselves, and prepare them for the next step
in their lives. Thank you.
Monologue #4 (SCOTT)
I’m not particularly interested in being Switzerland. Switzerland is known for its neutrality. It
sat, untouched, during two of the most insanely devastating conflicts that the modern world
has ever known. While battle raged all around it, Switzerland stayed uncommitted and
irrelevant. Germany made plans to attack it in World War II, but never found it important
enough to go through with it. I’m not interested in being anyone’s afterthought. If my skill set
is no longer recognized or useful, then I’ll do something else.
I think that it’s getting harder and harder to convince anyone that anything that can’t be
measured is of value. History is about causal relationships and connections. Critical thinking.
Analysis. The development of the mind. Not by rote memorization. History also teaches
cultural understanding and awareness of differences in people across different backgrounds.
It doesn’t assume that everyone is white, and relatively comfortable. It’s much harder to fit
these skills into a bar graph that you can present to your Pioneer Executive Board and say
‘student learning is up 16% this quarter.’ History is full of examples of people, places, and
ideas that were marginalized because they were difficult to understand. It’s the irony of
ironies that history itself has become one, too.
Beauty & the Beast
Ages: 8-13
Directed by Ed Perry
Be a part of this dramatic adaptation of the original tale of inner beauty
and outer darkness, filled with enchantment and wonderment! A
beautiful French girl discovers more than she first believed possible
about her frightful new acquaintance. This show will show you that the
classic story of Beauty and the Beast goes back much further than "Be
Our Guest!"
Rehearsals begin June 5th from 1-3pm
Performs: July 18-21 at 7pm at Plank Jr. High
Tickets: $7 Adults; $5 Students/Seniors
Monologue #1 (Floraunda)
A very long time ago... There was a small town by the sea. In this town there lived a
prosperous merchant named Henry Beaumont, who shared a comfortable house with his
beloved and only daughter, Belinda. They were not rich, but they were very comfortable,
because, as you should know- Master Beaumont was a good man of business. He and his
daughter, Belinda, had many friends, and they lived very happily. Now, Belinda was very fond
of reading, and spent many hours dreaming over her books. No matter how many she read,
she always felt that she could never read enough... but she kept trying!
Monologue #2 (Florabunda)
You, Prince Phillip, are impossibly selfish, a disgrace to your parents, and a bad ruler. Your
people are oppressed, unhappy, and over- taxed! Since you choose to act like a selfish Beast,
I have decided that you shall look like a real Beast!
First of all, while you are a Beast you must not tell anyone who you really are. Secondly, you
will remember very little of your present life, and what little you remember you must keep to
yourself. Thirdly, to free yourself from this spell- you must find a true friend- someone who will
love you for yourself. Fourthly, all of those in your castle will suffer under the same spell.
Fifthly, you will have one year, and one year alone to find and win a real friend. And finally, if
you fail to achieve this goal- or if you violate any conditions of the enchantment you will
remain a Beast- Forever!
Monologue #3 (Henry)
Ah, woe is me! Woe is me! What a terrible misfortune. Now I am worse off than before. Well,
at least I won't have to tell Belinda. The neighbors will do that for me. (SIGHS) Woe is me!
Oh, well. I suppose I should go home. No use waiting here for Belinda. I can find my own way
home. (LOOKS AROUND) I think. Let's see now. Should I take the High Road? Or the Low
Road? I was so upset I didn't really hear what they said. Oh, dear. I remember now- they saidyes, I'm certain that said- take the High Road after dark. Yes, because the Low Road is
dangerous. Or was it the other way around? No, no, I'm certain they said- take the High Road
after dark. The wind is raising. Must be a storm coming in. Oh, dear. I'm all alone in this huge
forest, and now it's going to rain! (HEARS SOMETHING) what was that?!
Monologue #4 (Belinda)
What for? What For? Because of you, I may never see my father again. He's my only family,
and I love him very dearly. And you ask me "what for?" Are you completely without feeling?
Oh, That's right, you only care about yourself.
Go ahead, growl at me. That's what you do best. Besides, I don't see how we're ever going to
be friends if you behave like this. You may look like a Beast, but that doesn't mean you have
to act like one! (Beast leaves. Belinda sinks to the ground, defeated.) Oh, Papa, I miss you!
I'm glad you are safe, but I don't know how I can endure this place...
Monologue #5 (Beast)
They're MY flowers, and I'll do what I want! I'll tear them all up if it pleases me! So there! I'll
tear them all up if I want to! And there's nothing you can do about it. (RIPPING FLOWERS
OUT) Daisies, Arg, I HATE daisies! Tulips, I HATE tulips! Oooohh, Dandelions, I LIKE
Dandelions. Roses, Stupid Thorny Roses! Ouch! YOWWLL, Ouch!
Wait, what is this? What's going on around here? It looks to me that everyone is having- FUN!
If there is one thing that I HATE, it's PEOPLE having fun, especially when I never have any!
I won't have you enjoying yourselves. Do you hear me? If I can't have any fun, then nobody
can! Now, Go Away!
Oliver!
Ages: 11 and up
Directed by Brian Brems
Music Directed by River Stanford
Pit Directed by Amanda Connon
The classic Charles Dickens musical Oliver follows the journey of a young orphan who is caught among the
haves, the have-nots, and the stole-what-they-haves, in unforgiving, dank, pre-Victorian London. Featuring
classic musical numbers and literary pedigree, this epic story shows the societal structures that trap and
restrict the city's poor, where the likelihood of their next meal depends on how light their fingers are.
Rehearsals begin June 18th from 9am-1pm
Performs: August 1-4 at 7pm at Oswego East High School
Tickets: $9 Adults; $7 Students/Seniors
Oliver Twist – a young orphan, innocent and wide-eyed, who trusts too much.
Mr. Bumble – a pompous blowhard with a puffed up sense of his own authority and a passionate love for the
sound of his own voice.
Mrs. Sowerberry – a mean-spirited undertaker’s wife with little patience for workhouse boys and even less
desire to feed them with her own meals.
The Artful Dodger – a sly, smooth, fast-talking pickpocket who knows all the angles.
Fagin – the manipulative old leader of a group of thieves, capable of both threatening behavior and extreme
cowardice.
Nancy – a tough young girl with a weakness for falling in love with the wrong kind of man.
Bill Sykes – a hardened, brutal burglar who inspires fear when he walks into a room, with a tiny soft spot only
for the right girl.
The following passages are descriptions from Charles Dickens’ novel Oliver Twist, the source for the musical
Oliver! Instead of reading a monologue from the show itself, for your audition, you should act one of these
passages from the novel as one of the characters listed above. Think about your voice, tone, and movements
as you practice each passage. Your goal is to show the character traits listed above in the words below. If you
don’t know some of the words in the passages, look them up in the dictionary so you can pronounce and
convey the meaning accurately. Though the play is set in London, do not use a British accent. We will not be
using them for the show.
Monologue #1
A dirtier or more wretched place he had never seen. The street was very narrow and muddy,
and the air was impregnated with filthy odours. There were a good many small shops; but the
only stock in trade appeared to be heaps of children, who, even at that time of night, were
crawling in and out at the doors, or screaming from the inside. The sole places that seemed
to prosper amid the general blight of the place, were the public-houses; and in them, the
lowest orders of Irish were wrangling with might and main. Covered ways and yards, which
here and there diverged from the main street, disclosed little knots of houses, where drunken
men and women were positively wallowing in filth; and from several of the door-ways, great illlooking fellows were cautiously emerging, bound, to all appearance, on no very well-disposed
or harmless errands.
Monologue #2
Then, came straggling groups of labourers going to their work; then, men and women with
fish-baskets on their heads; donkey-carts laden with vegetables; chaise-carts filled with livestock or whole carcasses of meat; milk-women with pails; an unbroken concourse of people,
trudging out with various supplies to the eastern suburbs of the town. As they approached
the City, the noise and traffic gradually increased; when they threaded the streets between
Shoreditch and Smithfield, it had swelled into a roar of sound and bustle. It was as light as it
was likely to be, till night came on again, and the busy morning of half the London population
had begun.
Monologue #3
Countrymen, butchers, drovers, hawkers, boys, thieves, idlers, and vagabonds of every low
grade, were mingled together in a mass; the whistling of drovers, the barking of dogs, the
bellowing and plunging of oxen, the bleating of sheep, the grunting and squeaking of pigs, the
cries of hawkers, the shouts, oaths, and quarrelling on all sides; the ringing of bells and roar
of voices, that issued from every public-house; the crowding, pushing, driving, beating,
whooping, and yelling; the hideous and discordant din that resounded from every corner of
the market; and the unwashed, unshaven, squalid, and dirty figures constantly running to and
fro, and bursting in and out of the throng; rendered it a stunning and bewildering scene, which
quite confounded the senses.