Director’s Note:
I am so stoked to be directing Firehouse's Summer production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee! Especially after the past few years, I am E-S-T-A-T-I-C to be directing a comedy, especially one as close to my heart as Spelling Bee. That being said, although this is a comedy, it does not mean we forget the domestic and global troubles surrounding us daily.
Created and written in 2005, some jokes featured in Spelling Bee have aged less than gracefully. When thinking about how to approach this show, I wanted to find a way to pull this script into 2022. This script is so special because the creators encourage you to transform elements that localize the story to your own community.
Spelling Bee is one of those shows that you will never see the same production twice. That's one of my favourite things about it. We've taken collaborate care as a company to add moments that reflect how we feel about the world in which we live. There are moments when we as artists want to make a difference during a time of crisis, and what better way than to use our art?
Along with actors and creative team, we have taken the time to make a show that is uniquely ours. I hope you enjoy our take on the loveable and eccentric characters of Spelling Bee.
"To all of you who are made vulnerable and subjected to shame because you have a uterus — I say: I see you. Have courage. You are beautiful. You remind me of my daughters." -Uma Thurman
I had the incredible opportunity to work on The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee as a part of Firehouse Center for the Arts’ amazing, outdoor summer series for their Summer 2022 Season. Check out the playbill below!
All photos were taken by Tim Gurczak Photography