“THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE”

music & lyrics by William Finn
book by Rathel Sheinkin conceived by Rebecca Feldman
directed by HTC’s Tim Scott

Performed at Heidelberg Theatre, 36 Turnham Ave, Rosanna, Melbourne from 14 November – 29 November 2025

From the team that brought you our 2023 sell-out Ladies in Black, comes a quirky musical about an eclectic group of adolescents (played by grown-up actors) who compete to become Spelling Champion, meanwhile telling stories of their family and background through song.

Nominated for six Tony Awards and winner of two, this funny and touching show charms audiences with its wit and humour, its fast pace and vibrant score. There’s even a dose of audience participation!

(Text by Chris McLean – Heidelberg Theatre Company)

CAST:
Character…………………. Actor
Chip Tolentino ………………Jackson Howe
Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere …………………..Llaaneath Poor
Leaf Coneybear ………………..Tyson Legg
William Barfee ………………Wayne Gleeson
Marcy Park …………………….Hillary Aramze
Olive Ostrovsky ………………Rachel Rai
Rona Lisa Perretti …………………..Rafaela Cleeve Gerkens
Vice Principle Douglas Panch ………………..Damian Calvert
Mitch Mahoney ………………Tim Murphy
Olive’s Dad & Dan Dad ………………Chris Isaac
Carl Dad, Jesus, Leaf’s Dad…………………….Matt Todd

PRODUCTION TEAM:
Director………………………….Tim Scott
Production Co-ordination…Gayle Poor
Musical Director……………….John Clancy
Choreographer……………….Jenny Vincent-Green
Stage Manager……………….Melanie Belcher
Assist Stage Manager & Prompts……Bobbie Parish
Set Design……………………..Brenton Staples
Lighting Design………………Deryk Hartwick
Sound Design…………………John Rowe

HTC’s SUPPORT TEAMS:
Costumes………………………Wendy Drowley, Catherine Christensen, Jenny Gilbert
Properties………………………Jim Thompson, Wendy Drowley, Catherine Christensen
Set Painting……………………Mal Cother, Anne Woodward, Pam Neivandt
Set Construction…………..Owen Evans and Doug McNaughton, Phil Holmes, Dave Belton, Brett Hunt, Tim Scott, Noel Purdey, Ashley Deans, Alex Deans, Nick Bartholomew, Blake Egan, Sean Tessari, Ron Thomas, Norm Munks, Chris McLean & HTC members
Photography…………………David Belton & Aislinn Ryan
Program & Poster………….Chris McLean
Publicity………………………Jim Thompson, Morgan Thomas-Connor
Box Office……………………Sally Scott, Carol Farr, Louise Millar-Hoffman, Brett Hunt, Fiona Campbell, Margaret Hassall
Front of House……………..Jenny Gilbert and HTC members

Follow the links below to view photos of HTC’s production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

(Images by Dave Belton)

25 Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – Final Dress→

25 Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – Rehearsal→

25 Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – Cast & Director→

Heidelberg Theatre Web Site →

….

These photographic works and linked galleries by David Belton are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

“OTHER DESERT CITIES”

by Jon Robin Baitz
directed by Gaetano Santo

Performed at Heidelberg Theatre, 36 Turnham Ave, Rosanna, Melbourne from 5 September – 20 September 2025

Other Desert Cities is a 2011 play by American playwright Jon Robin Baitz. Set in Palm Springs, California, the play follows well-to-do, aging Republicans Lyman and Polly Wyeth as their daughter, Brooke, a liberal-leaning writer, threatens to expose a disturbing family secret through a tell all memoir. This family’s crisis mirrors the American nation’s politics.

The play has been awarded for showcasing its creator’s talents: five Tony Award nominations, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway.

(Text by Chris McLean – Heidelberg Theatre Company)

CAST:
Character…………………. Actor
Brooke Wyeth ………………Jen Bush
Polly Wyeth…………………..Lindy Yeates
Lyman Wyeth………………..Phil Lambert
Silda Wrauman………………Paula McDonald
Trip Wyeth…………………….Liam Gillespie

PRODUCTION TEAM:
Director………………………….Gaetano Santo
Assistant Director……………James Antonas
Production Co-ordination…Jim Thompson
Stage Manager……………….Melanie Belcher
Assist Stage Manager & Prompts……Bobbie Parish
Set Design……………………..Gaetano Santo
Lighting Design………………Craig Pearcey
Sound Design…………………John Rowe & Gaetano Santo
Costumes………………………Wendy Drowley, Catherine Christensen, Jenny Gilbert
Properties………………………Jim Thompson, Wendy Drowley, Catherine Christensen
Set Decor……………………….Pam Neivandt
Mural Design………………….Morgan Thomas-Connor
Set Painting……………………Mal Cother, Anne Woodward, Pam Neivandt
Lighting & Sound Ops……John Rowe, Jeff Edwards, Bruce Moorhouse
Special Props………………..Warren Lane & Chris McLean
Set Construction…………..Owen Evans and Doug McNaughton, Phil Holmes, Dave Belton, Brett Hunt, Tim Scott, Noel Purdey, Ashley Deans, Alex Deans, Nick Bartholomew, Blake Egan, Sean Tessari, Ron Thomas, Norm Munks, Chris McLean & HTC members
Photography…………………David Belton & Aislinn Ryan
Program & Poster………….Chris McLean
Publicity………………………Jim Thompson, Morgan Thomas-Connor
Box Office……………………Sally Scott, Carol Farr, Louise Millar-Hoffman, Brett Hunt, Fiona Campbell, Margaret Hassall
Front of House……………..Jenny Gilbert and HTC members

Follow the links below to view photos of HTC’s production of OTHER DESERT CITIES

(Images by Dave Belton)

Other Desert Cities – Final Dress→

Other Desert Cities – Early Rehearsal→

Other Desert Cities – Cast & Director→

Heidelberg Theatre Web Site →

….

These photographic works and linked galleries by David Belton are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.