BY
Becca Yourko
  • communication arts
  • Tippecanoe, Ohio

Local student Becca Yourko will appear in popular musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Malone University (OH)

2014 Oct 28

"Syzygy - s...y...z...y...g...y -- syzygy."

Theatre at Malone University will present The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on October 31, November 1, and November 4 - 8 in the Performing Arts Hall of Founders Hall, located on the campus located at 2600 Cleveland Avenue N.W. in Canton. Tickets are available for $10 each by calling the University box office at 330-471-8202. All curtain times are at 8 p.m.

The cast includes Becca Yourko, a junior communication arts major from Tippecanoe, Ohio (44699), in the part of Marcy Park.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee offers a riotous ride, complete with audience participation. The Tony Award-winning musical, made popular on Broadway, is a delightful den of comedic genius - a fast-paced crowd pleaser and an instant fan favorite.

Play synopsis by stageagent.com:

The competition is intense. The words are hilarious. Let the spelling begin! The show centers around a fictional spelling bee in Putnam County, New York. Six kids face off in the battle of their lives. They compete against each other as well as members of the audience. Three adults help adjudicate the proceedings: a nostalgic former spelling bee winner, a mildly insane vice principal and the official comfort counselor completing his community service to the state of New York.

The play, conceived by Rebecca Feldman, is adapted from the book by Rachel Sheinkin with music and lyrics by William Finn.

Malone's production - presented through special arrangement with Musical Theatre International (MTI) -- will be directed by Tammie McKenzie, professor of communication arts, faculty adviser to Alpha Psi Omega honor society, and director of theatre; with set design by Jim Brothers, technical director.

Located on 96 rolling acres in Canton, Ohio, Malone University is comprised of the College of Theology, Arts, and Sciences; the School of Education and Human Development; the School of Business and Leadership; and the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Malone is a Christian university for the arts, sciences, and professions in the liberal arts tradition, affiliated with the Evangelical Friends Church, offering 41 majors, 42 minors, and 11 graduate programs. Nationally, Malone University is ranked in the top four percent of colleges and universities in career outcomes, top 10 (#9) best online financial aid packages, and top 50 (#30) most affordable Christian colleges. Regionally, U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges 2015 ranks Malone University among the top colleges and universities in the Midwest in the category Regional Universities, and to its list of best online bachelor's programs. Statewide, Malone appears on the list of colleges offering the best lifetime return on investment in Ohio. Malone University has been recognized by the prestigious Templeton Foundation as a leader in character development, as a military-friendly school by Victory Media, and as one of Northeast Ohio's top workplaces by the Cleveland Plain Dealer.