GREENFIELD – Having devoted much of her life to community theater, Chris Schaefer knows a thing or two about the local acting scene.
Many actors have performed together on stage dozens of times over the years, having built tight-knit bonds with fellow thespians.
Schaefer, a longtime director and actor, thinks this weekend’s production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is one of the best ensembles she’s seen in her nearly three decades of community theater.
“I know we’ve done a lot of shows and I’m very proud of every single one of them, but the cast all seems to think this is the best, tightest production we’ve ever done. Everything is just flowing,” she said.
Schaefer founded both Kids Play and CrazyLake Acting Company, the latter of which is putting on this weekend’s PG-13 production at the Ricks Center for the Arts in Greenfield.
Schaefer calls the production a “fun romp into adolescence.”
The musical is centered around six middle-school students participating in the county spelling bee, in hopes of advancing to the nationals in Washington, D.C.
The spellers spend much of the production singing musical numbers about their individual home lives, their concerns and their dreams.
“You just really get an insight into middle school life,” said Schaefer, who has spent the past 26 years molding young actors through her KidsPlay youth acting troupe.
One of her longtime collaborators, Amy Studabaker, directs vocals and choreography for “Spelling Bee” in addition to playing the role of team member Marcy Park, a classic overachiever.
Schaefer gives Studabaker much of the credit for creating an entertaining show.
“She’s amazing. At least half of this production’s success is due to her,” said Schaefer.
Studabaker said the musical is a fun flashback to an awkward season in life.
“It’s a time when kids are realizing that they’re separate from their parents, that they have their own personalities and they’re trying to figure out who they are and who they want to be,” she said.
While she and Schaefer are local theater veterans, along with many others in the cast, there are a few new faces in the upcoming production.
One new member is Taylor Shelton, who graduated from Greenfield-Central High School in 2023.
It was just two years ago that Shelton was playing the role of Donna, the musically-gifted, angst-ridden mother in “Mama Mia!” on the high school’s stage.
“She is such an amazing fit for her part,” Schaefer said of Shelton.
“She has the most beautiful little voice and she’s just a fantastic, wonderful addition to the CrazyLake family,” she said.
Other spelling bee team members are played by Luke Agee, Alexandra Gawrys-Strand, Matt Little and Corey Yeaman.
Schaefer said she never ceases to be amazed at the wealth of talented actors in Hancock County.
“It is just great to work with this talented group. They must be enjoying themselves because they come back to audition again and again and again,” she said of her fellow CrazyLake crew.
“I don’t know what other people do with their spare time but this group of people likes to come and do shows. It’s an awesome way to spend the summer.”
Schaefer pointed out that “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is rated PG-13, which means it’s best suited for those ages 13 and up.
The stage play is a popular choice for college acting troupes to perform, she said.
“There’s funny moments, some wonderfully heart-wrenching moments and one particularly embarrassing moment for one of the characters,” said Schaefer, “but all-in-all it’s a delightful show. I can’t wait to get my cast in front of an audience.”
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” hits the Ricks Centre stage this weekend, with performance dates July 12-14 and 19-21.
Friday and Saturday shows are at 7 p.m., while Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m.
Tickets are available for $10 at Hometown Comics, $12 online at CrazyLakeActing.com or $15 at the door before the show.
The H.J. Ricks Centre for the Arts is at 122 W. Main St. in downtown Greenfield.
