Local celebrities will take to the stage during Wagon Wheel Theatre's production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee".
Biomet President Jon Serbousek will be in the show Aug. 26, while Wes Stouder and John Elliott will be spelling on stage tonight. Stouder is the president of Penguin Point, and Elliott is a trust officer with 1st Source Bank.
Also committed to being a part of the musical are Brad Bishop, OrthoWorx; John Hall, Hall & Marose, Friday; Jo Lemon, community leader, Thursday; Chad Briscoe, Grace College athletic director; Jennifer Shepherd, Warsaw Community High School assistant principal; David Pierce, Lakeview Middle School assistant principal, Saturday; Jay Michaels, Lake City Radio; Mary Kittrell, Kosciusko County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Tuesday.
Mike Stetzel, general manager of the Ramada Plaza and Hotel, said the objective is to have people come out, watch their friends be challenged, and have fun.
More local celebrities are being sought to take part so that every performance has at least one local celebrity. There are 11 performances of the musical, with one to two local celebrities in each show. The other two to three guest spellers on stage during the musical will be volunteers from the audience.
"These guys are doing this all different nights," said Stetzel.
"It's operated just like a spelling bee," he said. The objective is not to make anyone feel bad, but the words in the spelling bee do get progressively harder. "That's what makes it fun. We asked people to participate who would have fun."
"It'll be fun to be a part of such a rich tradition for our city," said Stouder. "I jumped at the chance."
According to the show's official website, www.spellingbeethemusical.com, before every performance of "Spelling Bee" four audience volunteers are recruited to participate on stage as guest spellers. Each new foursome guarantees a new set of "hilarious and unexpected experiences - one night is just as unique as the one before it."
The willing contestants not local celebrities will be chosen through a vetting process, using pre-show lobby interviews and audience questionnaires.
"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" runs through Aug. 28. Single adult tickets are $30 for all shows. Tickets for students 13 through college are $16, and children 12 and under are $12.
Opening nights and matinees are $22 for seniors. Special rates are available for groups of 15 or more.
To order tickets or for more information about upcoming events at the Wagon Wheel Theatre in Warsaw, call the box office at 574-267-8041 or toll-free at 866-823-2618. The website is at www.wagonwheeltheatre.com
