25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee brings laughter, fun to audiences, Nov. 9-17
When Theatre program lead Jennifer Little decided she wanted to direct her first musical at OCC, she played it safe by selecting a show with a small cast. Turns out she didn’t have any problem getting enough students to audition for the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Actually, it was the opposite.
“I was stunned by the amount of talent that showed up for auditions,” said Little, a former Broadway actor who joined OCC’s Theatre faculty in 2021. “I modified the show and created an additional ensemble with actors playing parents and siblings. I wanted to give students more opportunities, so we now have a cast closer to 30 than the original 9 principal roles.”
The Tony-Award winning musical follows a group of ‘wonderfully unique and impassioned adolescents’ as they compete for a bee championship that illustrates the importance of inclusion and community.
Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9, 10, 16 and 17 at the Smith Theatre, Orchard Ridge campus. Tickets are $10 for general admission, $5 for seniors and students, and free for OCC students, employees and alumni.
Spelling Bee attracts S-U-P-R-I-S-I-N-G cast, exposes H-I-D-D-E-N talents
According to Little, nearly 50 percent of the students in the show are new to OCC’s theatre productions. She shared some students in the musical production have never been onstage at all while a number have been onstage but never been in a musical; others have sung in choir but are learning how to move, sing and dance at the same time.
OCC student Antonio Hood is performing in a musical for the first time. The 20-year-old was so nervous he felt queasy before his audition. It didn’t show. Hood’s deep voice grabbed the attention of the casting team who selected him to play Mitch Mahoney, the official comfort counselor and one of the leading roles.
“Before this, I never sang in front of anyone—even my parents have never heard me sing!” said the Warren resident. “I was second to the last to audition but I got through it by putting my nervousness aside and bringing my confidence out.”
Fellow OCC student Cooper Miller, who performed as Sebastian in The Little Mermaid during his senior year at Lakeland High School in White Lake, said he is impressed by Hood’s talent.
“Antonio has one of the best voices in the production,” said Miller. “He can really belt.”
Miller, a 19-year-old White Lake resident, joins Hood onstage in two roles: Vice Principal Douglas Panch and the dad of contestant Olive Ostrovsky. He describes Panch, his lead role, as hot headed and only involved in the Spelling Bee because he is infatuated with moderator Rona Lisa Peretti.
“I enjoy Panch’s sarcasm. He’s very crude to the students who take too long to spell words,” shared Miller. “It’s really fun being a comedic relief throughout the show.”
Hood adds his character, an ex-convict on parole fulfilling his community service requirement, doesn’t want to be at the Spelling Bee either.
“I love how my character (Mitch Mahoney) is this big intimidating guy yet deep down he is soft and empathetic to how these kids grew up.
A musical for hearing, Hard of Hearing and Deaf audiences
The College production uniquely integrates hearing actors from OCC's Theatre Program along with eight signing actors from OCC's Sign Language Interpreter Program, supervised by qualified mentors. The student shadow interpreters joined the show as part of a supervised clinical experience partnership between OCC’s Theatre program and the Sign Language Interpreter program.
Student supervision follows the requirements of the State of Michigan Deaf Person's Interpreter Act and the Memo of Understanding between the Michigan Division on Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing and the Michigan Interpreter Education Programs.
Little invites the community to see OCC’s talented students in this fast-paced, hilarious musical.
“Every show teaches students something unique, but musicals teach them that there is a power of integrating music into the storytelling,” said Little.“I want them to discover they can do it and walk out with more confidence.”
About the show (NOT recommended for children under 13)
Featuring a fast-paced, wildly funny and touching book by Rachel Sheinkin and a truly fresh and vibrant score by William Finn, this bee is one unforgettable experience. An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming "ding" of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves a champion! At least the losers get a juice box.
About OCC
Oakland Community College offers nearly 100 degrees and certificates programs with the resources students need to be successful and advance our community. As a top transfer institution, OCC offers one of the state’s most affordable tuition rates and flexibility in scheduling with face-to-face and online options. The College is nationally recognized for its high-demand career training with expert faculty in their fields. More than 1 million students have enrolled in the College since it opened in 1965. Learn more at oaklandcc.edu.
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