This past week, UHS theater students presented two musicals on an alternating schedule. This was Troupe 4848’s first time implementing a double-feature format. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, was held on January 21st, 23rd, 24th, and 25th. Six was performed on January 22nd, 24th, and 25th.
Six is a musical about the six wives of Henry VIII. The show reimagines them as a modern girl group competing to see who had the worst experience in their marriages. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, is a quirky musical about a middle school spelling bee. It contains a fairly small array of characters, with five young contestants, and three adults. “We knew when we started Six there would be some students who didn’t get a chance to shine, due to the all female cast. So finding a production like Putnam County Spelling Bee gave us the opportunity to see so many new and old faces, and watch them step into a new role,” said theater director Ms. Rivera. Both Six and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, contain a cast with a unique set of characters, each with distinct personalities that are a joy to watch.
Students have been working diligently since October to bring both productions to life. Rehearsing two musicals at once presented its own set of challenges, which the technical crew adapted to, switching between sets every day. In the weeks leading up to opening night, students spent several hours after school practicing lines, dances, as well as working on set pieces and props. “For actors, each rehearsal is about three hours after school, plus their 5th period musical theatre class,” said sophomore Mayte Cardona Raber, the set designer and prop head of Six. Some students even spent extra time at school over winter break to ensure everything was ready in due time.
The opening night of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was absolutely stellar. It contained an excellent balance of hilarious and emotional moments, depicting each character’s struggle with their own issues outside of the spelling bee. Six was an outstanding show as well, with each character demonstrating impressive vocal performances. The musical has a relatively simple plot, but the performances from the girls were all equally strong. “We all get along well. We were all good friends before, but this show definitely brought us a lot closer to each other,” said junior Gianna Zayas, who plays Logainne in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The smaller cast brought each member together through collaboration, and strengthened the troupe’s overall bond along the way.
It’s clear that UHS thespians are extremely committed to their craft, whether they are actors or technicians. Despite a heavy workload this season, the cast and crew managed to pull together two full-length musicals. Both productions were spectacular, especially considering the limited amount of time they had to prepare.
