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The MAC Players at the Middetown Arts Center present "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"

Friday, March 06, 2026 @ 7:00pm



Middletown Arts Center
36 Church Street, Middletown, NJ 07748

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.

Director KATE CORDARO • Musical Director NICK JUPINKA • Choreographer SAMANTHA AMARAL



CAST

William Barfée – Julian Alejandro Baro

Olive Ostrovsky – Rach Phelan

Logainne Schwartzandgrunenierre (Schwartzy) – Zoe Seitz

Marcy Park Gloria – Gloria Licona Klein

Leaf Coneybear – Arron Little

Chip Tolentino – Charles Thomas Hughes

Douglas Panch – Clint Gilfillan

Rona Lisa Peretti – Cate Pasterchick

Mitch Mahoney – Zachary Conner



Music and Lyrics by WILLIAM FINN

Book by RACHEL SHEINKIN

Conceived by REBECCA FELDMAN

Additional Material by JAY REISS

Originally Directed on Broadway by JAMES LAPINE




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EVENT PREVIEWS

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(PRINCETON, NJ) -- McCarter Theatre Center, in partnership with the Department of Music at Princeton, is thrilled to present MEMOIR, a theatrical musical work by GRAMMY Award-winning composer and William Shubael Conant Professor of Music Steven Mackey, and director Mark DeChiazza. Performances take place at the Berlind Theatre on Saturday, April 18 at 7:30pm and Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 2:00pm.
The Actors Studio of New Jersey and The Sieminski Theater present "Finishing the Hat: The Music of Sondheim"

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(BASKING RIDGE, NJ) -- The Actors Studio of New Jersey and The Sieminski Theater present Finishing the Hat: The Music of Sondheim from April 18-19, 2026. This is a spectacular tribute to the legendary composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim.
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(SOMERS POINT, NJ) -- Gateway Playhouse will hold auditions for Frank Loesser's Tony Award-winning musical comedy Guys and Dolls on April 18 and April 22, 2026. Anyone age 16 and older, with any theatrical background or experience, is welcome to try out for this much-adored show. No appointments are necessary; all roles are open. Phil Pallitto, artistic director of the Gateway, will direct the musical.
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(PATERSON, NJ) -- Literature to Life (LTL) has announced their second series of Books Unite: Literature to Life in Paterson, consisting of a book club, two live performances, and an interactive workshop all centered around The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
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(HACKETTSTOWN, NJ) -- Centenary Stage Company is seeking non-equity singer/actors who are excellent movers/dancers for the 2026 NEXTStage Repertory 2026 Summer Season. The summer season includes The Wedding Singer and Maltby & Shire's Closer Than Ever. Auditions will be held by appointment on Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 10:00am–4:00pm in the Lackland Performing Arts Center.
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