The Menomonie Theater Guild presented their second stage production of the spring season, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," during the weekends of May 2-4 and 9-11 at the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts (205 Main St E, Menomonie).

Carol Diser-Ropella directed a humorous and heartwarming musical production centered on the stories of six adolescent spellers who competed in their county's local spelling bee, the Menomonie Area Chamber of Commerce writes.

The six actors who embodied each student — Tyler Buhr as Chip Tolentino; Alyssa Patten as Logainne Schwartzandgrubeniere; Cody Achatz as Leaf Coneybear; Christian Obradovich as William Barfee; Katie Talberg as Marcy Park; and Natalie Atwell as Olive Ostrovsky — were supported by their adult counterparts: Kobi Shaw playing Rona Lisa Peretti, Dan Zabrowski portraying Douglas Panch, and Jason Soules in the role of Mitch Mahoney.

Auditions for the production took place in February, and since then, the cast and crew have forged a strong bond while navigating challenges, mirroring the themes of adversity and perseverance found within the show itself, Diser-Ropella said. “We have discovered that music, laughter, and friendship are truly the best medicine for what ails us,” Diser-Ropella noted in the musical program.

Attendees of all ages were invited to engage in the production — beyond viewing in their seats at the Mabel Tainter — through audience participation. During "the bee," volunteers were invited to join the competition on stage, where they either advanced to the next round or were eliminated.

Following the final performance, the cast, crew, pit orchestra, and audience members celebrated the production's themes of community and acceptance (read more on these themes from Volume One). “That’s the great joy of the show — it’s about the delights of finding people they can grow up with,” the program shared.

The Menomonie Theater Guild, located at 502 2nd St W in Menomonie, utilizes the Theater Guild Building for various activities including rehearsals, auditions, set construction, singing, and dancing.

To learn more about upcoming events and productions, visit their website at menomonietheaterguild.org.