"Putnam County Spelling Bee" opens University Theater season

Youngstown State University Theater kicks off the 2015-16 season with the musical, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” with performances starting Oct. 9 in Ford Theater in Bliss Hall on the YSU campus. The show runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 9, 10 and 11, and Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 16, 17 and 18. Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m., while the Sunday matinee performances are at 2 p.m. Adult tickets are $20. Special rate tickets are: $10 for non-YSU students, YSU faculty and staff with valid ID, senior citizens, Penguin Club members and groups of eight or more. YSU student tickets are free with a valid ID. Season tickets are available in advance of the show and will be available for purchase during the run of the show. Call 330-941-3105 or visit www.ysu.tix.com to purchase tickets. Winner of the TONY and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” features a fast-paced, wildly funny and touching story and a fresh and vibrant score. “It has been a real blast to work with this design team, cast and crew, as we have created these wonderfully memorable characters,” said Matthew Mazuroski, YSU Theater faculty member and the show’s director. “And even though all of the cast are college students, it has been a joy to see them transform into these 10 and 11-year old children.” The performance contains some adult content. Department of Theater and Dance professional staff includes Music Director, Nancy Andersen Wolfgang; Scenic/Lighting Designer, Ellen E. Jones; Production Manager, Todd Dicken; Costume Designer, Katherine Garlick; Costume Shop Supervisor, Rebel Mickelson. Daniel Navabi, freshman, Musical Theatre major, from Columbus, Ohio, and Justin Brown, junior, Musical Theatre major from Jefferson, Ohio, are double cast as Chip Tolentino/Jesus. Angelique Tanner, sophomore, Musical Theatre major, from Waverly, Ohio, is Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre; Zara Markman, senior, Musical Theatre major, from Amherst, Wis., is Leaf Coneybear/Carl’s Dad; Josh Fleming, junior, Musical Theatre major from Canfield, Ohio, is William Barfee while Nathan Wagner, freshman, Musical Theatre major is the understudy; Carly Magnuson, senior, Musical Theatre major, Canfield, Ohio, is Marcy Parks; Emily Shipley, senior, Musical Theatre major, Struthers, Ohio, is Olive Ostrovsky; Katie Jerome, junior, Musical Theatre major, Westlake, Ohio, is Rona Lisa Perretti/Olive’s Mom; Mark Warchol, senior, Theatre Studies, Poland, Ohio, is Vice Principal Douglas Panch; and Connor Bezeredi, senior, Musical Theatre major is Mitch Mahoney/Dan’s Dad/Olive’s Dad. Live music from the pit orchestra includes performers Christin “Penny” McKenzie, senior, Piano major, from Cincinnati, Ohio, and Nathan Negro, junior, Percussion major from Wooster, Ohio. Parking is available in the Wick Avenue parking deck for a nominal fee. For more information, call 330-941-2307.