Performers from both Illinois Valley Community College and the community are getting ready to bring “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” to the stage at IVCC, which will run the weekends of April 9-12 and 16-19.

Sitting through a rehearsal reveals a show people don’t want to miss. The March rehearsal was what the director called the cast’s first stumble through, which gave them a chance to see what they have so far and where they still need to improve. Even though it was a long rehearsal, they kept up the same level of energy the entire time, and it was cool to watch everything start coming together.

Director Dale Young, a longtime director in his first-year teaching at IVCC, said the show is “a very silly show with a lot of audience interaction.”

He is especially excited for how involved the audience will be, and said he hopes people can come, laugh, and take a break from everyday stress.

Young talked highly of his cast saying, “they are moving a mile a minute.”
Lead actress Ellie Radke, a second-year student at IVCC who plays Rona Lisa Peretti, said one of the toughest parts of rehearsals has been keeping her voice strong through the long periods. She loves that her character gets to sing a lot and has such a caring, maternal personality. Ellie’s favorite part of the show is “The I Love You Song,” which she calls the “goosebumps moment” that really brings her character to life.

Cast member Eugenia Craig, a community member who plays the character Marcy Park, laughed as she said the most challenging part has been “singing and dancing while jumping and running.” She made it clear she is enjoying rehearsals, but that has been the toughest part so far, and she said she is excited for opening night.

Shows will take place April 9-12 and 16-19, Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for students, while IVCC students get in free.

The online box office is available at https://cur8.com/2091/project/138164.