SAC to spell out great times for audiences

SELMA – The Selma Arts Center stage will become an intellectual arena in an upcoming production.

From Sept. 25 to Oct. 17, the Selma Art Center’s “Chimerical Cast” and “Lugubrious Cast” will be bringing two unique renditions of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” Directed and choreographed by Claudio Laso, and assistant directed by Oscar Arellano, this show’s run aims to engage audiences with an endearing story about youth, some viewer participation and even social opportunities on select dates.

“I think people are in for a really fun time and also a really introspective time,” said Laso in an interview. “I hope people leave the show thinking about their childhood, thinking about great highlights or even looking back at how much they’ve grown since they were a kid.”

The show’s plot, originally written by Rachel Sheinkin, follows six mid-pubescants as they compete in the spelling championship of their lives. As the tweens do their best to spell a series of “potentially made-up” words, hoping not to hear the bell which signifies a mistake, audiences will get to learn each character’s backstory through personal tales ranging from hilarious to heartfelt. 

Laso said that with musical numbers such as the “The I Love You Song,” he is excited to see how audiences react to the lives of these characters, and to see how they can possibly relate to the show’s themes around adolescence.

Another standout aspect of the production for Laso is its dual cast. He said that throughout the rehearsal process, he’s enjoyed seeing how cast members of different ages bring their own life experiences into their performances. 

“At a base level, each character has an outline, but the way that the different cast members are coloring them are very different,” Laso said. “I think with the age differences between some of the doubles, it’s cool to see a more seasoned performer tap into different qualities of character, whereas someone who is younger has more of those (adolescent) memories readily available.”

Alongside the story’s tonal shakeups and the two distinct takes on the characters, one of the production’s most unique aspects is its use of audience participation.

At every show, four audience members will also be put in the hot seat as guest spellers, and can experience the production in a whole new way. Before the theatre lights dim, attendees will sign up in the theatre lobby for a chance to be called upon, and will join the cast on stage when prompted.

“What I’m really excited for is to see how the guest spellers will interact with the cast, and it’s a very unique experience that only four people get each show, so it’s going to make the show different every time,” Laso said. 

Adding onto the fun of this production’s run, there will be two Halloween Dress Up Events on Oct. 3 and Oct. 10. Audience members are encouraged to wear costumes at these shows, as the cast members will also be wearing Halloween costumes that hold thematic connections to their characters.

“We have a character who is going to be Chihiro from ‘Spirited Away,’ and it’s because the characters really align with each other,” Laso said. “We have another person dressing as Coraline and somebody else is going to be dressing up as Finn from ‘Adventure Time,’ so the references are wide because you have to take into consideration what that character would gravitate toward.”

Laso also noted that each cast will have unique costumes for their characters.

Over the course of the show’s run, the arts center will also be showing the Nostalgia Art Exhibit in the lobby, and until Sept. 18, artists can submit their work through the “Opportunities” page at selmaartscenter.com.