SM East theatre fans will get the chance to enjoy not one but two musicals this year. For the fall production, SM East students will be putting on the “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” a Tony-nominated musical that debuted on Broadway in 2005.
Traditionally, the school’s fall production has been a non-musical play. But theatre director Brian Cappello said that there was so much musical theatre talent among the current students that it would be a shame not to put it to use.
“And Putnam is more of an ‘acting’ show than a traditional musical,” he said. “Unlike a lot of musicals, the characters in this are more in-depth…plus, it’s just a fun show to do!”
SM East’s production features sophomore Christian Kennedy in the role of Rona Lisa Peretti and senior Austin Dalgleish as vice principal Douglas Panch, among many others. Performances will be 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday with a matinee at 2 p.m. Saturday as well. Tickets are $10 at the door or free with an SM East student ID.
The winter musical will be “Little Shop of Horrors,” set to run the first week of February.