Spelling Bee Playbill

December 5 - 7, 2019, 7:30 pm
DeMeester Recital Hall

The use of cameras, video cameras and other audio or video
recording devices is strictly prohibited.

Book by Rachel Sheinkin
Music and Lyrics by William Finn
Conceived by Rebecca Feldman
Additional Material by Jay Reiss
Originally Directed on Broadway by James Lapine
Originally Directed on Broadway by
David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whitman,
Patrick Catullo, Barrington Stage Company, Second
Stage Theatre
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is presented by
special arrangement with Music Theatre International.

Cast and Production Bios
Allison Thomas (Rona/Olive's Mom) '20 is a Senior Mass Communication major
with a dual minor in Musical Theatre and Speech Communication. She is from Felton,
PA, and has previously been seen in The Addams Family (Morticia), The Secret
Garden (Ayah), Tarzan (Jane), Grease (Sandy), and Legally Blonde (Elle Woods).
She would love to thank her family and friends for all of their continuous support as
she makes her way onto the stage for the last time. Break a leg everyone!
Ally Mills (Stage Manager/Olive’s Understudy) '21 is a junior Music major with
a concentration in Vocal Performance from Souderton, PA. Her previous shows at
YCP include The Secret Garden (Mary Lennox) and The Addams Family. She would
like to thank her friends, family and Dr Erin Lippard for their continuous support
and love. She hopes audience members enjoy the pandemonium that is the 25th
Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee!
Anna Tope (Assistant Stage Manager) '20 is a senior Vocal Performance major
with a minor in Musical Theatre from Columbia, MD. She has previously performed
in The Addams Family and The Secret Garden at York College, and The Little Mermaid
at Dreamwrights Community Theatre. She has enjoyed the opportunity to explore
the stage-managing side of theatre and is honored to get to work with this talented
cast on this hilarious show. She would like to thank her parents, brother and friends
for their constant love and support. She would also like to thank Dr. Lippard for
letting her be a part of the production team.
Becky Marcus (Olive Ostrovsky) '20 is a senior Music Industry and Recording
Technology major from Mechanicsburg, PA with a minor in Musical Theater.
Previous shows include: The Addams Family (Grandma Addams) and The Secret
Garden (Rose Lennox) at York College, as well as Legally Blonde (Paulette) at
DreamWrights Center for Community Arts. She would like to thank her family and
friends for always supporting her. She would also like to thank Dr. Lippard and the
rest of the music faculty for the ongoing opportunities they provide to their students.
Christopher Dillon (Leaf Coneybear/Carl Dad) '20 is a senior Music Industry and
Recording Technology major from Middletown, NJ with a minor in Musical Theater.
Previous Shows at York College include: Dog Sees God (Beethoven), The Addams
Family (Pugsley), Shakespeare in Hollywood (Joe E. Brown), and The Secret Garden
(Lieutenant Shaw). Chris would like to thank the cast of Spelling Bee for making this
such an amazing and fun experience. They would also like to thank their friends and
family for always being loving and supportive.
Danara Muldrow (Mayor of Putnam County, Costume Design) '21 is a junior
music performance major from York, PA. This is her first show at York College,
she had previously been in The Wiz (Aunt Em) and Hairspray (Dynamite #1) with
Weary Arts Group and In the Heights (Abuela Claudia) and Memphis (Felicia Farrell)
at William Penn Senior High School. She would like to thank her family, friends, the
faculty and staff of the music department, and Dr. Erin Lippard for constantly supporting
and encouraging her throughout her 3 years at York College. Danara is also
thankful to be apart of the fall musical with such amazing and talented people.

Ellen Korver (Crew member) '23 is a freshman BFA Graphic Design major.
Spelling Bee is her very first show at York College and she cannot wait to do more.
Erin Lippard (Director) is an active educator, director, and performer with diverse
interests in opera, musical theatre, art song, and choral literature. Lippard currently
serves as the Director of Vocal Studies at York College where she teaches voice
lessons, music literature classes, and directs the Musical Theatre program. Previously,
Lippard taught on the faculties at Sul Ross State University, the University of
Colorado (Denver), and the Rocky Mountain Center for the Musical Arts. Lippard
holds degrees from the University of Colorado (Boulder), Indiana University, and
James Madison University, and is an active member of the National Association of
Teachers of Singing. Originally from Chadds Ford, PA, Erin now lives in York, PA
where she enjoys hiking and cooking with her husband, Michael, and their two
children, Jacob and Anna.
Gavin Rotante (Lighting, Sound and Set Crew) '23 is a freshman Civil Engineering
major from Wall Township, NJ. Spelling Bee is his first college production.
He would like to thank Dr. Lippard for giving him the chance to be involved and his
parents for all their support.
Jack Korver (Vice Principal Doug Panch) '21 is a junior Graphic Design major
and Art History minor from York, PA. His previous shows include: The Secret
Garden (Captain Albert Lennox) and The Addams Family (Ghost Sailor) at York
College. He would like to thank his family and friends for their love and support.
James Manjo (Mitch/Dan Dad/Olive’s Dad) '20 is currently in the Masters of Business
Administration program and a student from Rockville, MD with an undergrad
degree in Music Industry and Recording Technology. Previous shows include:
York College Productions of The Secret Garden (Fakir), The Addams Family (Lucas
Beineke) and You're A Good Man Charlie Brown (Snoopy). He would like to thank
his friends, family members and colleagues for their consistent love and support.
Jason Bratcher (Putnam Optomestrists) '23 is a freshman Intelligence Analysis
major from Harford County, MD. Spelling Bee is the first show he has been involved
in at York College. He was involved in shows in high school. They include: Bye Bye
Birdie (Albert Peterson) and Harvey (Elwood Dowd). He would like to thank everyone
for creating such a welcoming atmosphere for his first show.
Josh Starkey (Chip Talentino) '20 is a senior that is thrilled to return to the stage at
YCP. Previous credits include Archibald (The Secret Garden), Gomez (The Addams
Family), Adolpho (The Drowsy Chaperone) and Linus (You’re A Good Man Charlie
Brown). In the spring, you might see him play Cinderella’s Prince in Into the Woods.
Josh has been performing in the Baltimore region since he was a kid. Favorite credits
include Rod (Avenue Q), Matthew (Altar Boyz), Emmett (Legally Blonde), and Prince
Eric (The Little Mermaid). Josh is a senior Mass Communication major at YCP. He’s
currently interning at WBAL-TV 11 in Baltimore. He hopes to use his degree and his
internship experience to become a news reporter and eventually venture deeper
into the world of television. Josh would like to thank Dr. Lippard for this wonderful
opportunity, as well as his family and friends for their constant love and support.

Cast (In Order of Appearance)
Rona Lisa Parretti (Olive’s Mom)......................................................... Allison Thomas
Chip Tolentino (Jesus)............................................................................. Josh Stakey
Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere (Leaf’s Mom)....................................... Vicky Cox
Leaf Coneybear (Carl Dad)....................................................................... Chris Dillon
William Barfée (Leaf’s Dad).............................................................. Michael DiPuppo
Marcy Park......................................................................................... Morgan Keener
Olive Ostrovsky..................................................................................... Becky Marcus
Douglas Panch......................................................................................... Jack Korver
Mitch Mahoney (Dan Dad, Olive’s Dad)................................................. James Manjo
Putnam Optometrist Representative................... Jason Bratcher (Leaf, understudy)
Mayor of Putnam County........................ Danara Muldrow (Olive’s mom, understudy)
Ushers....................................................................... Mya Gurreri (Rona, understudy)
Melina Piervencenti (Marcy, understudy),
Megan Stefek (Marcy, understudy)
McKenna Sylvester (Logainne, understudy)
Production Team
Scenic Design...................................................................................... Gavin Rotante,
Ellen Korver, Jason Bratcher
Stage Manager............................................................... Ally Mills (Olive, understudy)
Assistant Stage Manager............................................................................ Anna Tope
Choreography................................................ Jordan Johnson (lead choreographer),
Vicky Cox, Melina Piervencenti
Lighting Design.......................................................... Gavin Rotante (lead designer),
Michael DiPuppo, Ally Mills, James Manjo,
William Kenyan (lighting consultatn)
Sound Design............................................................. Gavin Rotante (lead engineer),
Becky Marcus, Michael DiPuppo, James Manjo
Piano and Synthesizer..................................................................... Kenneth Osowski
Clarinet, Alto and Soprano Saxophones........................................ Michael S. Lippard
Stage Crew......................................................................................... Jason Bratcher,
Mya Gurreri, Chris Dillon,
Josh Starkey, James Manjo
Costume Design.................................................................................. Megan Stefek,
Danara Muldrow, Allison Thomas,
Morgan Keener, Mya Gurreri
Priscilla Kaufhold (costume consultant)
Publicity and Graphic Dersign...............................................Hannah Potts (designer)
Troy Patterson (creative director)
Ticketing and House Manager...............................................................Allison Altland

About the Show
Song List
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
The Rules
My Friend the Dictionary
Pandemonium
I’m Not That Smart
Magic Foot
Pandemonium
Prayer of the Comfort Counselor
Chip’s Lament
Woe is Me
Spelling Montage
I Speak Six Languages
The I Love You Song
Second (Part 1)
Pas de deux
Second (Part 2)
Epilogues
Finale
Six awkward spelling competitors join members of the audience as they vie for
the spelling competition of a lifetime in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling
Bee. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives,
the tweens spell their way through a series of words, hoping to never hear the
soul-crushing ding of the bell that signifies a spelling mistake. Guided by a
compassionate former spelling champion and a sarcastic rules coordinator,
10 spellers enter. One by one they meet their unfortunate elimination from the bee,
and are escorted by an unlikely comfort-counselor off stage. This fast-paced event
involves laugh-out-loud encounters with blatantly honest life lessons. Along the way,
the spellers realize that winning (and losing) isn’t everything.
At least the losers get a juice-box.
The use of cameras, video cameras and other audio or video
recording devices is strictly prohibited.

Cast and Production Bios Continued
Jordan Johnson (Choreographer) '20 is a senior sport management major from
Ebensburg, PA. Recently, she has played Claire in the Secret Garden (York College),
an Ancestor in the Addams Family (York College), and Cecile in Annie (Cresson Lake
Playhouse). She is excited to have had the opportunity to help all of the Putnam
County Spellers learn how to dance. She has loved working with all of her friends in
the show. She would like to thank Dr. Lippard for giving her this opportunity and the
cast for working with her as she learned to choreograph for the first time!
Kenneth Osowski (Piano) maintains an active career as both performer and educator.
Osowski has performed chamber music at the Tanglewood Music Center, Yellow Barn,
Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall, and the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. As a soloist,
he has appeared with the Reno Chamber Orchestra, the Hershey Symphony, and the
York Symphony Orchestra, with whom he serves as principal pianist. As a chamber musician,
he has collaborated with the Jupiter, Lydian, and Parker String Quartets, Mobius
Percussion, and the Mark Morris Dance Group. Since 2007, Osowski has served as
Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Piano and Music Theory Studies at York
College of PA, where he also served as Chair of the Department of Communication
and the Arts from 2014-2019. Osowski earned a doctoral degree from Peabody, a
master’s degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a bachelor’s degree from
Yale University. Ken lives in Stewartstown, PA with his wife Nora and their two dogs
(Mookie and Benny) and three cats (Alma, Lucy, and Otis).
McKenna Sylvester (Usher/ Logainne Understudy) '23 is a freshman Nursing major
from York, PA. Previous shows include: Miracle on 34th Street, Alice in Wonderland
and Dr. Doolittle at Dreamwrights, Cinderella at TAFE, The Little Mermaid, Sister Act
(Sister Mary Theresa), Emma! A Pop Musical, Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop of
Horrors, and Catch Me if You Can (Carol Strong) at Central York High School. She
would like to thank her family for supporting her through her first semester of college
and all her theatrical endeavors!
Meghan Stefek (Usher/Marcy’s Understudy/Costumer) '23 is a freshman Mass
Communication major with a minor in Musical Theatre from Old Bridge, NJ. Some
of her favorite past roles include: Mrs.Gloop (Willy Wonka), Cheshire Cat (Alice In
Wonderland) and Serena (Legally Blonde). She would like to thank her friends and
family for all their love and support.
Melina Piervencenti (Usher/Marcy’s Understudy) '23 is a freshman Recreational
Therapy major from Sayville, NY. Previous shows include: Anything Goes (Bonnie)
and Legally Blonde (Margot) at Sayville High School. She would like to thank her
family and friends for their constant love and support.
Michael A. DiPuppo (William Barfee) '20 is a Senior Music Industry and Recording
Technology major from Reading, PA. Previous YCP shows include 'Drowsy Chaperone'
(Gangster 1), 'Addam's Family' (Uncle Fester), and 'Secret Garden' (Dickon).
He would like to thank his family and friends for their amazing support and would like
to dedicate this performance and his acting abilities to the late Stan Deen.

Michael S. Lippard (clarinet and saxophone) is on the faculty at York College of PA
where he teaches clarinet, Fundamentals of Music Theory, Listening to Music, and
directs the Tribute Rock Band. Michael is an active performer in central PA, whose
activities extend into the region as a guest artist and clinician. He has performed with
orchestras in Texas, Michigan, Colorado, Wyoming, Indiana, and Virginia, and enjoys
his summers teaching and performing on faculty at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in
Michigan. Dr. Lippard holds a Bachelor’s degree from James Madison University,
a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance from Northwestern University, and a
Doctorate of Musical Arts in Clarinet Performance and Pedagogy at the University
of Colorado at Boulder.
Morgan Keener (Marcy Park) '20 is a senior Public Relations major from Reading,
PA with a minor in Music Industry and Recording Technology. Previous shows include
The Drowsy Chaperone (Maid) at York College, and Shrek The Musical (Fiona) at
Conrad Weiser High School. She would like to dedicate her performance to her late
Grandmother, who always supported her musical dreams.
Mya Gurreri (Usher/Rona Understudy) '23 is a freshman Mass Communication
major from York, PA. Previous shows include: Bye Bye Birdie (Mrs. Peterson) at West
York High School and The Little Mermaid (Scuttle) at Dreamwrights. She would love
to thank her friends and family for all of their love and support.
Victoria Cox (Logainne) '19 is a senior Mass Communication and Public Relations
dual major graduating Fall 2019 who is excited to be competing in her fifth and final
Spelling Bee in Putnam County, having previously placed as Lucy (You’re A Good Man
Charlie Brown), Wednesday (The Addams Family) and Martha (The Secret Garden).
She is the president of her school’s radio station and attends YCP. She is incredibly
thankful to everyone who has made the Bee her home for the past three and a half
years and knows that it is not goodbye because I Love You! #144 #thebird #bse.
Director's Notes
This fall musical has been a wonderful experiential learning opportunity for the
students enrolled in the Opera/Musical Theatre workshop. The Spelling Bee project
has been a faculty-directed, student-created production with students from multiple
disciplines bringing their talents to the stage while also managing most of the
design elements for the show. Faculty and guest advisors guided students in the
areas of scenic design, costume development, lighting design and operation, sound
reinforcement, graphic design and advertising. It has been a wonderful collaboration
of efforts and expertise that has culminated in a rewarding experience for everyone
involved. It is fitting that the script for Spelling Bee grew out of a similar collaborative
and improvisational environment with the original creators of the show concept.
We hope you enjoy the performance as much as we have enjoyed the process of
bringing it to fruition.
Special Thanks: Allison Altland, Grace Muzzo, Troy Patterson, Randall Janney, Rory
Kraft, Ken Osowski, Priscilla Kaufhold, William Kenyon, Matthew Inkster, Hannah
Potts, Samantha Rivers

Coming Spring 2020
The York Chamber Players
February 7, 2020, 7:30 p.m.
DeMeester Recital Hall
York College
Symphony Orchestra
Matthew Inkster, Conductor
February 18, 2020, 7:30 p.m.
Waldner Performing Arts Center
York College Wind Ensemble
with the Spring Garden Band
Matthew Inkster, Conductor
February 27, 2020, 7:30 p.m.
Waldner Performing Arts Center
York College Rock Bands
March 26, 2020, 7:30 p.m.
Marketview Arts Center
Chamber Voices
Grace Muzzo, Conductor
April 3, 2020, 7:30 p.m.
DeMeester Recital Hall
Martini, Mozart, and
Mendelssohn:
A Spring Choral Concert
Grace Muzzo, Conductor
April 19, 2020, 3:00 p.m.
Waldner Performing Arts Center
York College Groove Ensemble
Jeff Stabley, Director
April 23, 2020, 7:30 p.m.
DeMeester Recital Hall
York College Jazz Ensemble
Jeff Stabley, Director
April 24, 2020, 7:30 p.m.
DeMeester Recital Hall
Music Industry Panel Discussion
April 26, 2020, 7:30 p.m.
Weinstock Lecture Hall
Into the Woods
Music and Lyrics by
Stephen Sondheim
Erin Lippard, Director
April 30–May 2, 2020, 7:30 p.m.
Waldner Performing Arts Center
York College Wind Ensemble
Matthew Inkster, Conductor
May 6, 2020, 7:30 p.m.
Waldner Performing Arts Center
Student Piano Recital:
Music for Children
May 7, 2020, 7:30 p.m.
DeMeester Recital Hall
York College Symphony Orchestra
Matthew Inkster, Conductor
May 12, 2020, 7:30 p.m.
Waldner Performing Arts Center

The use of cameras, video cameras and other audio or video
recording devices is strictly prohibited.