Laughter thundered through Tuohy Hall over the weekend during the SJC Brooklyn Chapel Player’s rendition of the popular musical, “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
Directed by Adam Mace, a member of the campus’ Class of 2008, the musical comedy centered around the annual spelling bee at the fictional Putnam Valley Middle School. The play features six quirky student contestants who wrestle with relationships, learning how to lose and understanding how to treat each other with respect and dignity. 
“I have often called the ‘Spelling Bee’ a little show with lots of heart,” Mace said. “And after spending the last month working on it with these young adults, I know now, more than ever, that we never stop learning those lessons. We never stop growing and that is truly a gift — one that should never be taken for granted.”
Similar to the original 2005 Broadway production, four audience members were pulled at random onto the stage during each performance to join the Putnam County Spelling Bee.
Meet the ‘Spelling Bee’ cast
Cast members from the “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” include Claudia Nytko, Chris Napolitano, Jessica Weiss, Daniel Goncalves, Sam Kelley, Saerlaith Dunn, Akira Williams, Nicholas DeTorfino and Christian Lee Branch.
Branch, assistant for campus events and technical services played Mitch Mahoney — an ex-convict who is fulfilling his community service by handing out apple juice to students who get eliminated from the spelling bee. He was also the producer of the play.
Among the best apects of production, according to the actors, was learning the quirky vocabulary words. A few cast members shared their favorites:
Name: Jessica Weiss
Graduation Year: 2020
Character: Logainne Schwartz and Grubenniere
Favorite Word: Lobbygow (An errand boy.)
Name: Nicholas DeTorfino
Graduation Year: 2021
Character: Doug Panch
Favorite word: Homunculus (A very small human or humanoid creature.)
Name: Daniel Goncalves
Graduation Year: 2020
Character: Leaf Coneybear
Favorite word: Apoop (A nautical British term, referring to the area towards the stern of the ship.)
Name: Chris Napolitano
Graduation Year: 2020
Character: Charlito ‘Chip’ Tolentino
Favorite word: Gardyloo (Used by people in medieval Scotland to warn passers-by of waste about to be thrown from a window into the street below.)
Name: Akira Williams
Graduation Year: 2021
Character: Olive Ostrovsky
Favorite word: Catterjunes (A made-up word by the original ‘Spelling Bee’ producers for the show.)
