Join Prince William Little Theatre for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Hylton Performing Arts Center, March 10-19, 2023, and cheer on an eclectic group of six students as they vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime! Six spellers enter; one speller leaves a champion! The show is a riotous ride, complete with audience participation!

Winner of the Tony and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee features an eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves! At least the losers get a juice box. A riotous ride, complete with audience participation, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a delightful den of comedic genius.

Director:   Melanie McGuin
Producers:   Becky Gould-Levine and Melanie McCleerey
Cast:
Mitch Mahoney -- Kareem Taylor
Rona Lisa Peretti -- Julia Braxton
Olive Ostrovsky -- Chelsea Zeidman
Marcy Park -- Shelby Cody
Logainne Schwartabngrunierre (Schwartzy) -- Becca Harney
Chip Tolentino -- Kyle Chua
Leaf Coneybear -- Zack Walsh
William Barfee -- Joey Olson
Douglas Panch -- Scott Heine

Performance Dates:
March 10, 2023 at 8:00 pm
March 11, 2023 at 2:00 pm
March 11, 2023 at 8:00 pm
March 12, 2023 at 2:00 pm
March 17, 2023 at 8:00 pm
March 18, 2023 at 2:00 pm
March 18, 2023 at 8:00 pm
March 19, 2023 at 2:00 pm

For ticket information, click here. 

For additional information, visit our website: www.pwlt.org​

Prince William Little Theatre has announced the plays it will produce during its 2023-2024 season. They are:

Oliver! with book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, July 2023. A special event in Merchant Hall, Hylton Performing Arts Center with the Manassas Symphony Orchestra. Four performances, July 14 and 15 at 8:00 p.m. and July 15 and 16 at 2:00 p.m.

The Westing Game, October 2023. There will be seven performances, October 4, 7, 13 and 14 at 8:00 p.m. and October 8, 14 and 15 at 2:00 p.m.

Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, December 2023. There will be eight performances, December 8 and 15 at 8:00 p.m., December 9 and 17 at 7:00 p.m., and December 9, 10, 16 amd 17 at 2:00 p.m.

Stick Fly, March 2024. There will be six performances, March 8, 9, 15 and 16 at 8:00 p.m. and March 10 and 17 at 2:00 p.m.

Audition Notice for Prince William Little Theatre’s summer production of Lionel Bart's Oliver! ​with the Manassas Symphony Orchestra

Prince William Little Theatre (Manassas, VA) is holding auditions for Lionel Bart's Oliver! 
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Lionel Bart

AUDITION DATES:

Friday, March 24, 2023
6:00PM - 7:30PM  (children's roles only)
7:30PM – 9:30PM (adult roles only)
Saturday, March 25, 2023
10:00AM - 1:00PM  (children's roles only)
2:00PM – 4:00PM (adult roles only)
Sunday, March 26, 2023
10:00AM - 1:00PM (Callbacks) - by invitation only

AUDITION SIGN-UP: 
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050544a5a82ca5fb6-auditions4#/

AUDITION LOCATION:
Auditions will take place at the Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, VA 20110 in the Balllard-Postma Studio, located on the first floor behind the Gregory Family Theater. Please park in Tower parking lot and follow signs behind of the building to enter through the new wing.

PERFORMANCES:
July 14, 2023 at 8:00PM
July 15, 2023 at 2:00PM
July 15, 2023 at 8:00PM
July 16, 2023 at 2:00PM

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
Below is a breakdown of the cast and recommended ages of the characters. There are plenty of Chorus roles with lines and singing solos. Vocal ranges are approximate. A note about stage ages: Your stage age is NOT your actual age, but the age you appear on the stage. A note about accents: The roles of Oliver, Mr. Brownlow, Dr. Grimwig and Mrs. Bedwin will speak with a “Posh” accent. All other roles will speak with a “Cockney” accent. Those auditioning will be expected to speak with a Cockney or Posh accent (or both). YouTube is a good resource for help with these two accents.

OLIVER TWIST (Stage age 9-13) (Vocal range A3/F5) Orphaned and abandoned from an upper-class family, Oliver ends up in the workhouse. He is innocent and good-hearted, with a strong spirit. Tip: The actor must have strong ability to convey real emotions.

ARTFUL DOGER (Stage age 12) (Vocal range A3/F5) The cleverest of Fagin's pickpockets, he introduces Fagin to Oliver. He is a good soul in spite of his “occupation.” Dodger is lively and self-assured. Tip: The actor must have a dynamic stage presence.

FAGIN (Stage age 60s) (Vocal range Baritone or Tenor B3/Fb5)  A conniving career criminal and conman. He takes in homeless children and teaches them to pick pockets for him.
Tip: The actor must have strong ability to convey a man of many dimensions: a leader, a vagrant, a father, a teacher, a lost soul and an eccentric.

NANCY (Stage age 25-30) (Vocal range Alto E3/B4) A graduate of Fagin's “school of thieves” and tragically involved in an abusive relationship with Bill Sikes. She is a career thief, hardened and streetwise beyond her years, but also intelligent, caring and good-hearted. She longs for a better life. A mother figure to Fagin's gang.  Tip: The actor must have strong ability to convey real emotions.

BILL SIKES (Stage age 35) (Vocal range Bass C#3/C4) Perhaps the most infamous graduate from Fagin's gang. Nancy's brutal and abusive boyfriend.  Tip: The actor must be fearsome.

BET (Stage age 16-20) (Vocal range C4/C5) One of Fagin's former pickpockets. Nancy's sister. Bet looks up to Nancy and is caring and good-natured. Tip: The actor must be able to portray her devotion to Nancy.

MR. BUMBLE (Stage age 50) (Vocal range Baritone C3/A4) The domineering Beadle (a minor official who carries out various civil, educational or ceremonial duties) who runs the workhouse. Pompous and self-absorbed, greedy and uncaring. He preaches Christian morality, but behaves without compassion towards the paupers in his care. Tip: The actor must be able to be pompous and appear to over-power the other characters on stage. Good comedic timing.

WIDOW CORNEY (Stage age 50) (Vocal range Soprano C4/E5) The sharp-tongued, domineering matron of the workhouse. A widow, she will do anything to get Mr. Bumble’s attention. Tip: A comical role.

MR. SOWERBERRY (Stage age 40) (Vocal range Baritone Bb3/F4) The Undertaker. Lives up to his name. He is stingy and ruled by his wife. Slimy. Tip: Good comedic timing.

MRS. SOWERBERRY (Stage age 40) (Vocal range Alto or Soprano Bb4/F5) The Undertaker's wife. She rules the roost and is stingy and mean-spirited. Along with her husband, she provides some comic relief. Tip: Good comedic timing.

MRS. BEDWIN (Stage age 55-60) (Vocal range Alto C4/Bb5) The Brownlow's housekeeper. She cares for everything and everyone and is wise and kind-hearted. Tip: Motherly and kind.

CHARLEY BATES (Stage age 10-12) (non-singing role) One of Fagin's pickpockets. He is Dodger's sidekick. Tip: Strong in reacting to scenes.

CHARLOTTE  (Stage age 15-18) (non-singing role) The rude but also flirtatious daughter of the Sowerberrys. Tip: Her focus is solely on Noah Claypole.

NOAH CLAYPOLE (Stage age 15-18) (non-singing role) The Sowerberrys' apprentice, he bullies Oliver about his mother and enjoys a flirty relationship with Charlotte. A downright bully. Tip: Is jealous of Oliver possibly taking over his position.

MR. BROWNLOW (Stage age 45-50)(non-singing role) A distinguished older gentleman of wealth and breeding. Tip: The actor must be able to convey authority with gentleness and compassion.

DR. GRIMWIG (Stage age 45-50) (non-singing role) A silly doctor who thinks he knows more than he actually does. Tip: Good comedic timing.

OLD SALLY (Stage age 70-80) (non-singing role) A pauper with an important secret. Tip: The actor must be able to convey a frail and old woman.

MATRON (Stage age 60-70) (non-singing role) A friend of Old Sally’s. Works in the Workhouse. Tip: Must be able to convey concern.

CHAIRMAN AND GOVERNORS  (Stage age 60s) (All vocal ranges) you will have song lines in “Oliver” and chorus songs.

WORKHOUSE CHORUS (Stage age 8-15)  Orphans, abandoned children and pickpockets. Some will double as Town’s kids.

FAGIN’S KIDS CHORUS (Stage age 8-15)  Orphans, abandoned children and pickpockets.

TOWNSPEOPLE CHORUSES: POSH (Upper Class) and COCKNEY (Lower Class)  (Stage age 16 and up) (all vocal ranges)

Workhouse assistants, street vendors, townspeople, merchants, bar keepers, pub patrons, policemen, night watchman. Some individual lines. Singing and dancing in ensemble numbers.
“Who Will Buy” featured Soloists

THE ROSE SELLER (mezzo - D3/C5)
STRAWBERRY SELLER (soprano - Eb4/Eb5)
MILK MAID (soprano - Eb4/F5)
KNIFE GRINDER (baritone - Bb3/C4)​

Rehearsals will take place 3  times a week in Manassas, VA; generally on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Prince William Little Theatre is a volunteer organization.  All cast members are volunteer (unpaid) and no parts have been pre-cast.

Everyone is encouraged to audition.  PWLT is committed to diversity in casting, with the caveat that roles are cast so as to preserve the (impact/thrust/point/nature/fundamental) of the production as depicted by the author.
​
MONETARY OBLIGATION:

If cast in this production, you will be required to have a current PWLT membership ($5 annually for the 2023-2024 season). In addition, a production fee of $25 to be collected at the first read thru.

PRODUCTION TEAM:
Director:  Melanie McCleerey
Assistant Director:  Becky Gould-Levine
Producer: Chrissy Mastrangelo
Stage Manager: Katie Morris
Choreographer: Brianna Galligan
​Music Director: Veronica Miller
Conductor: Jim Villani
Lighting Design:  Ken Crowley & Patti Crowley  
​Sound Design: Wil Taft & Tim McCleerey
Set Design & Build: Nick Mastrangelo & Mia Villani
Costume Design:  Sara Negron, Susy Moorstein, & Michelle Matthews

The Washington Area Theatre Community Honors (WATCH) announced nominations for the combined 2020 & 2022 judging years on Sunday, January 15th at 7:30pm in Alexandria, Virginia. WATCH is an organization founded for the adjudication and presentation of annual awards recognizing artistic and technical excellence in community theater throughout the metropolitan Washington D.C. area.

Prince William Little Theatre is humbled to have been nominated for the following award:

Outstanding Costume Design In A Play - Susy Moorstein and Michelle Matthews for The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge​

be willing to take on the role of Chief Sitting Bull. “It was a non-singing role, so I figured, why not? Evelyn worked with me tirelessly, and I was awarded a Lofty Award for my performance.”

However, his favorite show to work on was It¹s A Wonderful Life at FCT about ten or twelve years ago as the mean Mr. Potter. He was recently in Rooftops’ production of Murder at Huxley Manor directed by Ted Ballard and had a lot of fun with the role and the cast. While usually in front of an audience, Bob has helped out backstage on two productions. He was stage manager in Rooftops' production of Sweet Delilah Swim Club directed by Sallie Willows. Prince William Little Theatre was thrilled to welcome him as assistant director, working with Terri Ritchey on The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge. Bob also learned to run the spotlight on that show. Looks like he has a future behind the scenes as well.

Other than theater, he is also active as a volunteer ESL instructor and frequently coaches kids¹ soccer. In addition, he usually plays trivia once a week with people he met through theater. After a long career in government service and as a teacher, he currently works part time at Home Depot. When he has free time, he likes to go to some of the local wineries.

His philosophy is “Life is what you make of it, and I am making fun of it.”  If you ever interact with Bob you will attest that he certainly has an upbeat look at life.  He is constantly making jokes and certainly makes people around him laugh and enjoy working with him. PWLT looks forward to working with him again, because we love to laugh and enjoy life too – thanks Bob!

will be the mystery, The Westing Game. Christmas will be Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley. And rounding out the season in March 2024 will be Stick Fly. Tickets are on sale for all performances on March 1, 2023. 

Congratulations go out to our own Sophia Manicone. She recently performed in PWLT’s The Sound of Music as Liesl and Sister Act as Sister Mary Robert. Sophia will be making her Broadway debut in Parade. Sophia recently performed in this show at the New York City Center in November. We are so proud of her leap to Broadway!

Do you want to get involved with PWLT but don’t know what to do? No worries!! We love our volunteers. 

Don’t fret if you don’t want to be onstage. We have plenty of volunteer opportunities.

Let us know if you have any ideas. What would you like to see? We’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at [email protected].

Thank you for keeping up with PWLT.  

Stay safe, take care, and keep performing.

See you at the theatre!

Chrissy

Christine Mastrangelo, PWLT President