ELMIRA, NY (WENY) – The Elmira College Theater Department is gearing up for its spring musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which will open this weekend. The production promises to be a fun and heartwarming experience as a diverse group of students compete in a quirky and competitive spelling bee. 

Zoe Slater ’28 and Dionte James ’27, two of the cast members, shared their excitement about the upcoming show and their roles in the production. 

Zoe, who plays the character of Marcy Park, a high-achieving contestant, explained the dynamics of her role. 

 "Marcy is a strict, no-nonsense character who speaks six languages and isn’t allowed to cry," Zoe said. "I’m more of a flowy, expressive person, so it’s been fun to step into her shoes and figure out how to portray such a serious character." 

Dionte, who portrays William Morris Barfee, a confident and slightly snotty contestant, described his character as someone with a single-minded focus on winning. 

 "William is a bit of a classic character—snotty, confident, and always aiming for first place," Dionte said. "He has a rivalry with another contestant, Chip Tolentino, and he’s all about proving that he’s the best. It’s been a lot of fun to embrace his competitive nature." 

Zoe highlighted the strong chemistry within the cast, noting that the group had worked incredibly hard together. 

 "Everyone in the cast is so talented, and it’s been amazing to collaborate with people from different backgrounds. It’s a complicated show, but the cast has really come together to make it something special," she said. 

For those looking to catch the show, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will be staged at Elmira College's Gibson Theater.  

Performances will run Friday through Sunday, with showtimes at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, and 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. 

Tickets can be reserved through the Elmira College Theater website. Admission is free for children under 17 and college students, while tickets for adults are $5.