YOUNG ARTISTS ENSEMBLE ALUMNI & FRIENDS PRESENT The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
cure arial, drug sans-serif;”>Young Artists Ensemble Alumni and Friends will join together to present The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee January 7 – 10, generic 2015, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00pm at the Hillcrest Center for the Arts, 403 West Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks. Directed by Amy Perkins, the Tony Award-winning play was conceived by Rebecca Feldman with music and lyrics by Tony Award-winning composer William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin and additional material by Jay Reiss. Proceeds from this production benefit Young Artists Ensemble.
(L to R): Michael Fischer, Kevin Gilmond, Seth Freed, Kristen Wisneski, Jordan Schneider, Mariah Tobin, Natalie Hightower, Ra’Shawn Durell, and Francesca Barletta
The 2005 Broadway production was directed by James Lapine and was nominated for six Tony Awards, winning best book. An eclectic group of six-graders arrives at the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, each eager to win for very different reasons. Sweet and shy Olive brings only her best friend (the dictionary) with her to the bee; Bold and hyper-allergic speller William Barfee uses his “magic foot” to propel him to greatness; former champion Chip is struggling with his burgeoning puberty; easily distracted Leaf is unconvinced that he’s smart enough to be a challenger; overachiever Marcy is disappointed by her consistent success; and politically aware Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre only wants to impress her gay dads. In hilarious, touching, and catchy songs, each speller reveals his/her hopes, struggles, and passions as they make their way through the competition. Four actual audience members are invited onto the stage at each performance to compete in the “spelling bee.”
(L to R): Kevin Gilmond, Seth Freed, Kristen Wisneski, Jordan Schneider, Mariah Tobin, and Natalie Hightower
YA4Ever is a talented and generous group of Young Artists Ensemble Alumni and Friends who gather to donate their time and talents for the presentations of fun musical productions. Recent productions have included “Spring Awakening”, “Into the Woods”, “Godspell”, “Rent”, “The Last Five Years” starring Veronica Dunne, “Urinetown”, and “The Rocky Horror Show”. These productions are created to support the performing arts and raise money for Young Artists Ensemble, while giving YAE alumni a chance to come back to perform in the place where they first began to develop their craft and deepen their love for the theatre.
Kevin Gilmond
Young Artists Ensemble is an award-winning theatre company for young people that has received many accolades, including the Encore Statue Award from the City of Thousand Oaks for Excellence in the Arts. It has received top honors in the National Youth Arts Awards for many of its Teen Summer Musicals and its Conejo Theatre For Everyone.
Kristen Wisneski
When the Young Artists Ensemble started in 1981 it was a small group performing on a shoestring budget in the back room of a local park. Today it produces an annual Family Theatre Season as well as annual Teen Dramas and Teen Summer Musicals. YAE works to instill a seed of love for the arts in the youth of this community that will continue to grow and blossom throughout their lives. Yearly it provides opportunities for hundreds of kids between the ages of 10 and 19 to perform in well-known musicals and plays, and hosts an annual program that integrates developmentally delayed adults into the theatrical community.
Michael Fischer and Francesca Barletta
Reserved tickets are $15 for students and seniors and $20 for adults in the left and right sections and $20 for reserved seating in the center section and may be purchased by calling 805-381-1246 or visiting www.hillcrestarts.com/spring-awakening.
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
WHAT: 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE. Proceeds benefit Young Artists Ensemble. The tale of several socially awkward youngsters finding joy, heartache and a purpose in competing at the regional spelling bee. With an engaging, tuneful score by William Finn and a sweet, funny book by Rachel Sheinkin, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee causes audiences to fall in love, both with the show itself and its “perspicacious,” “jocular,” and “effervescent” spellers.
WHEN: January 7 – 10, 2016, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00pm
Hillcrest Center for the Arts
403 W. Hillcrest Drive
Thousand Oaks, CA
HOW: (805) 381-1246 or www.yaeonline.com
TICKETS: Reserved seating in left and right sections is $15 for students and seniors and $20 for adults.
Reserved seating in the center section is $20.
OTHER: Free parking is always available.
Photo Credits: Paul Cranmer
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