This semester Allen Community College stages a musical comedy “Spelling Bee.” This performance is about a world-wide known competition among the children who are required to spell words according to orthographic conventions. The play is going to be performed on October 10, 11 and 12. All Allen students are welcomed to come see the show for free. The musical is going to be performed at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, 205 E. Madison, in downtown Iola.
The audition for the musical was held in the middle of August where all the students willing to be a part of the performance had a chance for tryouts. One of the freshman students who came for an audition was Kailey Boyd, 18 year old from Moran, Kansas. Kailey has been acting for four years through her high school. The proudest moment in her life was getting first place in state forensics in both humorous solo and duet acting.
A couple of days after an audition she was informed that she got the main role in the musical.
“I was not really sure that I was going to get a main role as during an audition I was so nervous and felt uncomfortable singing,” says Kailey.
Kailey is going to play Rona Lisa Perretti, a long-time spelling bee host and 3rd Annual Putnam County spelling champion.
“Rona is very nice, smart, and energetic,” says Kailey about her character.
Talking about her elementary school she remembered that she was a “Spelling Bee” participant. It was always a fun experience for her. At the present time she is a freshman here at Allen. She takes theater appreciation class; she is also planning to take an acting class next semester.
All of Kailey`s friends and even school teacher are going to come see the show. The musical is going to be in less than a month. Kailey said she is nervous and very excited about the performance.
ANOTHER INTERESTING character of “Spelling Bee” is Carl who is played by 19-year-old sophomore student Jordan Fountain from Carrollton, Texas. For Jordan it is the third semester at Allen. He has been involved in acting since last semester when he took improvisation class. That semester Jordan participated in “Lighten Up” improv show that he liked very much.
“It`s fun. — It’s a lot of fun, you get to be silly. I love being silly. It`s a great thing,” says Jordan about the improv show.
Jordan got two roles after the August audition: a role in “Annie Frank,” a drama that will be presented later this semester, and in the “Spelling Bee” musical where he plays Carl.
“Carl is a homosexual man who is married with Dan. He has a daughter named Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere who is in the spelling bee. He wants his daughter to win the competition so much because he hates losers,” Jordan said, laughing. “He is cool, though, and a funny character.”
When Jordan was in fourth grade in his school he participated in the spelling bee competition that was among the classrooms. He remembers that time with a smile on his face, saying simply that “it was a cool experience: you ask for a definition, sentence, and then you pray to God you spelled it right”.
Answering the question about what he likes more, funny improv shows or serious plays, Jordan says that he feels more comfortable with the latter because “improv is where you have to be yourself. It is a big challenge to do a serious acting,” says Jordan.
Besides acting Jordan is a runner on the track and field team since his first semester at Allen. He is planning to get a bachelor`s degree after he is done with his associate degree.
Talking about the performance, Jordan is very nervous saying that “It`s not so much being in front of people; it`s having to speak and sing in front of people.” Adding to that he looks forward to the musical, especially seeing his parents come from Texas to see the show.
THE DIRECTOR of the musical is Tony Piazza. He also teaches Acting and improvisation classes here at Allen. Mr. Piazza is also a production coordinator for “Annie Frank.” Mr. Piazza is glad that there are many students from Allen involved in theater.
“You guys are ready to take charge. You are ready to do things,”he said about the drama students.
Mr. Piazza has seen the “Spelling Bee” show before but never staged it until now. He likes to stage musicals because there is so much involved in it.
“It`s a fun show. Directing musicals is always fun because you`re working with movements, which is my wife Terra Piazza, and a musician, Mr. (Ted) Clause, so you`re working as a team effort unlike doing the play when it`s kind of a solo,” he said.
There also will be two shows next semester, one of which consists of several one-act plays. Auditions always runs in the beginning of each semester. Everyone is welcomed for tryouts.
And remember: “Even if you don’t end up being a major movie star, it is still performance and acting. It’s a wonderful self-expression. It`s a way to become more confident in front of people,” said Piazza.