25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee

P-U-T-N-A-M, that spells Putnam for the 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee that the TJC Theatre department will be performing as their second main stage show. However, this play stands apart from the typical comedy you might see on stage.

“You break the fourth wall a lot, that’s amazing, like you get to interact with all the audience like you can’t do in other plays” said Gerardo Carreon who plays the character Mitch Mahoney.

The ‘fourth wall’ is the invisible barrier that separates an actor from the audience. Instead of pretending the audience is not present, volunteers from the audience will be allowed to join right in with the actors.

“Every night is a completely different experience and I think that’s really what makes it different from a lot of musicals” said Holly Tarkon who plays Marcy Park.

Because of new audiences every night, every performance will have its own unique outcome. The actors have to add their own skills into the mix as they adjust to each new situation, making the cast experience just as different.

“Definitely the cast, the people in it, they bring a whole new life to the characters. It’s very entertaining just to watch them grow as people as they’re working on their characters” said Stage Manager Bre’Ann Higgins.

Even though there are risks with all the first time freshman actors in the cast, Tarkon says their director; Rebecca Faulds-Howard has good purpose behind it.

“She picks people because her directing style is to teach, not to just have like the easiest cast to work with. So she took some risks with some of her casting choices but I think it really paid off” said Tarkon.

Faulds-Howard plays more than a directing role in this department; Carreon says she also portrays a motherly figure for everybody.

“She will always push you to the best, and also be kind at the same time. And that’s really hard for a director. Like I’ve never seen a director like that, a director who’s so good at pushing you to make you perfect and taking care of you at the same time” said Carreon.

In agreement, Tarkon believes “she’s just really good at having the healthy, nurturing environment in the midst of school and jobs and nine hour long rehearsals.”

The actors look forward to the different audiences; try their best not to laughingly break out of character, to spell the words correctly, and to hear the audience laugh.

The play will be performed in Jean Browne Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday- Saturday, Nov. 18-21, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22. For more information on the play and tickets, call 903- 510-2212 or visit http://www.tjc.edu/news/article/486/tickets_on_sale_nov_11_for_theatre_tjc_s_putnam_county_spelling_bee