The NSMT/Barrington co-production will officially open at the Beverly, MA, venue Aug. 14. Jeremy Dobrish directs with choreography by Dan Knechtges and music direction by Brian Usifer. The cast comprises Emy Baysic (Marcy Park), Miguel Cervantes (Chip Tolentino), Hannah Del Monte (Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre), Molly Ephraim (Olive Ostrovsky), Demond Green (Mitch Mahoney), Clifton Guterman (Leaf Coneybear), Michael Mastro (Vice-Principal Douglas Panch), Eric Peterson (William Barfee) and Sally Wilfert (Rona Lisa Perretti).
Spelling Bee was based on C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E, an original play created by Rebecca Feldman and the comedy troupe The Farm. Composer-lyricist William Finn provided the score for the musical with a book by librettist Rachel Sheinkin. The Broadway production played Circle in the Square Theatre April 15, 2005-Jan. 20, 2008.
Spelling Bee earned six Tony Award nominations, including Best Score, Best Book, Best Direction, Best Featured Actor (Dan Fogler) and Featured Actress (Celia Keenan Bolger) as well as a nomination for the top prize of Best Musical. Fogler and book writer Sheinkin took home awards for their work. The original Broadway cast recording is available on Ghostlight Records.
The North Shore creative team also includes Beowolf Borritt (production designer), Jennifer Caprio (costume designer), Jeff Davis (lighting designer), Alicia Reece (production stage manager) and Kate McDoniel (assistant stage manager).
Tickets, priced $40-$77, are available by visiting www.nsmt.org or by calling (978) 232-7200.
The North Shore Music Theatre is located at 62 Dunham Road in Beverly, MA.