CAST
(alphabetically)
MARCY PARK – Christina Boothe
VICE PRINCIPAL PANCH – Mark Cawood
LOGAINNE SCHWARTZ... – DeAnna Gregory
MITCH MAHONEY – DeBryant Johnson
OLIVE OSTROVSKY – Isha Pattanaik
WILLIAM BARFEE – Matthew Quattlebaum
LEAF CONEYBEAR – Jonathan "Thor" Raines
CHIP TOLENTINO – Noah Taylor
RONA LISA PERETTI – Paige Whitman
SWINGS
Aaron Fletcher
Eleanor Stasiek
PRODUCTION TEAM
DIRECTOR – Drew Whitley
MUSIC DIRECTOR – Jared Fricks
CHOREOGRAPHER – Mary Haley Thompson
STAGE MANAGER – Alex Bennett
COSTUME DESIGNER – Bree Green
SCENIC DESIGNER/TECHNICAL DIR. – Dalton Cole
SOUND OPERATOR – Ryan Oliver
PROPMASTER – Emma Erskine
MAKEUP DESIGNER – Mary Grace Whitlock
LIGHTING DESIGNER – Thomas Cawood
BOX OFFICE – David Veatch
SCENIC ASSISTANT – Austin Dowling
CAST BIOS
Christina Hope (Marcy Park) is a senior BFA Musical Theatre major at The South Carolina School of the Arts. She is so thankful for her huge support of friends, cast mates, teachers, and family, including her cat Jin-Jin! Her favorite shows that she has been a part of include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Anderson University’s recent production of Guys and Dolls. She’s thrilled to be a part of her first Market Theatre production, and she welcomes you to the spelling bee!
Mark Cawood (Vice Principal Panch) has appeared in previous Market Theatre shows The Fantasticks, The Addams Family, Mamma Mia!, and the 24-Hour Musical The Little Mermaid. After suffering the humiliation of misspelling “afflict” during the first round of the his sixth-grade spelling bee, Mark never again entered a spelling bee. Still, he is grateful for the opportunity to experience The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. He is thankful for the support from his wife Wendy and his two sons, John Paul and Thomas.
DeAnna Gregory (Logainne Schwartzandgrubinierre, Leaf’s mom, Olive’s mom) is so excited to be back in a show with Market Theatre again! You may have seen her in other Market shows like The Addams Family musical and Mamma Mia!. She has had a blast working on this hilarious show with this wonderful cast and crew, and she hopes you love seeing it as much as she’s loved being in it.
DeBryant Johnson (Mitch Mahoney, Dan Dad, Olive’s Dad) is amped to be making his Market debut! Some of his past roles include: I Feel Good: A Trip to Motown (Vocalist), Dreamgirls (CC), and Choir Boy (AJ, Pure Theatre).To his family: Love you 3000.
Isha Pattanaik (Olive Ostrovsky) is a freshman communication major at Clemson University studying broadcast journalism with a potential double major in theatre. Some of her favorite shows she has been a part of are Pippin (Leading Player), Little Shop of Horrors (Chiffon), and Mamma Mia! with Market Theatre last summer. She is absolutely ecstatic to be a part of this amazing cast and cannot wait for you to see the show!
Matthew Quattlebaum (William Barfee) is ecstatic to be making his Market Theatre debut in this hilarious show! Some favorite credits include The Little Mermaid (Grimsby, 24 Hour Musical), Godspell (George, Centre Stage), Into the Woods (Steward/Milky White, Centre Stage), Wait Until Dark (Sam Hendrix, Greenville Theatre), and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Levi, Greenville Theatre). Huge thanks to the cast, the crew, and Drew for all the laughs and incredibly fun rehearsals! Enjoy the show!
Jonathon “Thor” Raines (Leaf Coneybear) is in his third production with Market Theatre, following Mamma Mia! and The Little Mermaid this past summer. He is a graduate of Anderson University, where he has worked for several years as well. He has also appeared in several award-winning web-shows and short films, and hopes to transition into full-time professional film and stage acting. Thor’s biggest dream is to be the opening kill in a horror movie; they’re always the most iconic.
Noah Taylor (Chip Tolentino) is returning to the stage after a 10-year break in which he directed and produced dozens of shows, got married, became a dad, and founded Market Theatre. Noah graduated from AU with a degree in both theatre and graphic design, and will soon receive his Master of Arts in Theatre from Regent University. He served 3 years as the Community Theatre Chair for the SC Theatre Association and recently joined the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) as its Graphic & Digital Media Manager. Favorite directing credits include Into the Woods (in Carolina Wren Park), Next to Normal, Sweeney Todd, Godspell, Almost Maine, The Fantasticks, and four 24 Hour Musicals. All the love to Carlie and Elias.
Paige Whitman (Rona Lisa Peretti) is E-C-S-T-A-T-I-C to be in this production! She has had so much fun working with so many talented people, and is so grateful. Paige is a Special Education Assistant at Southwood Academy of the Arts, and also manages the Box Office here at the Market. Previous favorite roles include: Les Miserables (CLT), Tuck Everlasting (ECP), and The Addams Family (Market Theatre).
Aaron Fletcher (Swing) is a performer, director, dramaturg who just graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre from Anderson University. Most recently he directed Puffs at CLT and performed in Market's 24 Hour Musical, The Little Mermaid, as Jetsam. He is a huge fan of William Finn and is honored to be a part of this production. He has recently accepted a role at the Disney College Program where he will be headed next.
Eleanor Stasiek (Swing) is 18 years old and is currently taking a gap year. Though she hasn’t been on the Market stage, she’s been a part of three separate rehearsal processes (some cancelled for COVID-related reasons). Her favorite past roles have included Mrs. Beaver in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Clemson Little Theatre), and Gretchen in Freaky Friday (Mauldin Cultural Center). She loves making people laugh and spending too much money on things she doesn’t need!
What's a swing? Our two swings have played a crucial role in crafting Spelling Bee, though you may not see them on stage. While an understudy is usually a member of the ensemble who will go on in case of emergency, Spelling Bee has no ensemble. Facing a shortened rehearsal process, scheduling conflicts, and a global pandemic, the team knew that swings would be necessary to support the show due to absences, illness, or injury—whether in rehearsal or performance. Though they may not get to perform for an audience, the swings have been a critical and very special part of this show.
The cast and production team would like to give a very warm thank you to Aaron and Eleanor for contributing so much to Spelling Bee!
PRODUCTION TEAM BIOS
Drew Whitley (Director) is the Market's Outreach & Education Director and the theatre teacher at D. W. Daniel High School in Central, SC. He was recently named 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year for the school. He has performed in and directed more than 70 productions at theaters across the Upstate and beyond including Market Theatre, Warehouse Theatre, Mill Town Players, Centre Stage, Foothills Playhouse, Clemson University, and Mill Mountain Theatre in Roanoke, VA. Additionally, his students have been recognized on the state and national levels for their performance and original works. Some favorite roles on stage include the Baker in Into the Woods (Market), Martin Van Buren in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Warehouse), and Jesus in Godspell (Foothills). At the Market, he has directed Death of a Salesman, Footloose (24 Hour Musical), The Little Mermaid (24 Hour Musical), and the award-winning The 39 Steps. Drew sends endless thanks and love to this unbelievable cast, crew, and creative team, his amazing parents, and his incredible wife, Rosie.
Mary Haley Thompson (Choreographer) is excited to choreograph a production for the first time at Market Theatre. Mary Haley was a high school and college cheerleader where she choreographed countless routines. She has over 10 years of tap and jazz experience, and has also choreographed many dance numbers for high school pageants. Mary Haley won a local dancing competition known as Dancing for our Heroes in 2018 and has since choreographed other dances performed at the event. She has loved working and dancing with the cast and production team of Spelling Bee.
Jared Fricks (Music Director) is excited to make his Market Theatre debut as music director of this hilarious show! Jared has been teaching for eight years and is currently the choral director at Palmetto High School. He has a background in musical theatre, both on stage and behind the scenes as music director. He has previously directed music for Little Shop of Horrors, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Xanadu for Palmetto’s Mustang Stage Company.
Alex Bennett (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back doing indoor, live theatre! This is Alex’s 7th production at the Market Theatre, but his first time Stage Managing. Alex was recently Awarded Best Supporting Actor at SCTA and Outstanding Production Assistant at SETC for his role in The 39 Steps.
Bree Green (Costume Designer) is a local costume designer and playwright who has just graduated from Anderson University with a degree in Theatre and another in Psychology. She has worked with the Market Theatre costumes for Our Town and 24 Hour Musical’s Beauty and the Beast, and Anderson University for many years of costume construction.
DIRECTOR'S NOTE
I'm going to ask you to do something utterly painful and very uncomfortable. I'm really sorry in advance. Okay, here we go: I want you to think back to your middle school years. Oof. I know. Rough. I want you to think back to all of the awkwardness, angst, and general cringe. Think about your clothing choices and hair styles. Think about the things that made you laugh and all of the inside jokes you had with your friends. Think about the hormones and all of the reciprocated (or unreciprocated) crushes. Okay, now keep all of those memories at the front of your mind because tonight, those middle school years will be tuned to the max and put on full display.
Before you go full pre-teen and we can't get you to stop thinking about getting your first piercing at Claire's, I want to include a quick note of thanks to YOU! Thank you for joining us for our first indoor production in more than a year and a half, and for making us your home for safe, quality theatre, which I believe you have missed just as much as we have. I may be biased, but I think this is the perfect show to come back on, putting on display the energy and joy we love to bring here at Market! Thank you!
Alright, alright, now you can pass that note to your bestie that sits all the way across the room from you in Pre-Algebra.
– Drew Whitley, Director
SPECIAL THANKS
Groucho’s Deli
Michael Witt
Anderson Arts Center
South Carolina Arts Commission
South Carolina School of the Arts at Anderson University
Jeff Bennett, Alex Bennett, & The Pound Cake Man
Scott Smith & CleverTechs
Astro Alford
Elijah Blough
Thomas Cawood
Wendy Cawood
Lydia Clark
Kelly Crittendon (Kelly T. Images)
Tish Crittendon
Kady Culbertson
Michelle Denmark
Austin Dowling
Trevor Durham
Makayla Fenters
Antoinette Hall
Alexis Moorhead
Kyra Morgan
Shelby Parker
Noah Saffer
Caryn Scheving
Tim Spears
Erica Stasiek
John Stasiek
Joshua Tate
Bekah Taylor
Carlie Taylor
Rebekah Teffertiller
Rosie Thompson
Lacey Williams
Jessica Wayland
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