Webutuck Drama Society: Spring musical postponed due to COVID-19 crisis

WEBUTUCK — Just months before the coronavirus pandemic stretched across the globe, the Webutuck Drama Society was ready to channel its creativity into another show stopper with this year’s anticipated production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” With one month left until the curtain was set to rise, COVID-19 struck and schools across New York state were closed until further notice. As it stands, the stage sits bare, the curtains have been drawn shut and the entire Webutuck High School auditorium has been rendered silent by the absence of performers.

Originally scheduled to run from Friday, April 24, through Sunday, April 26, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” tells the story of six unforgettable students — each with their own unique narrative — competing against one another in the eponymous spelling bee. The musical won both the Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award for the Best Book of a Musical and has garnered critical acclaim for its memorable songs, effortless wit and relatable characters. 

Webutuck’s production was to be directed by Tracy Liz Miller, with musical direction by Michael Berkeley. Miller said she loves the play and that it’s relatable to school-aged children, which is why she selected it as this year’s choice of performance.

“It explores empathy and humanity through the lens of the kind of the oddballs or what would be considered the super-smart strange ones in a school,” Miller said, “so we get to put the focus on alternative heroes. I also love that the roles get highlighted so everyone doing this play would, in essence, have a featured role, which isn’t always available in educational theater, and this would allow everyone to have their own focus.”

Altogether, there were around 25 Webutuck students in the cast and crew, 10 of whom were cast as main performers. Miller noted they might have recruited more to perform in the pit orchestra and work the front of the house and that the Webutuck Art Department was to create on the set. Right around the time that the pandemic broke out, Miller said they had just gotten the entire production blocked  and choreographed. 

“I was really excited with how far we had gotten because that would allow us to put in the details and clean the choreography and heighten the dramatic moments,” Miller said, “and we were having a heck of a lot of fun. I really miss being in the rehearsal room with all the students — it was a great place for all to gather. A lot of them were taking big risks they had never done before and it was a joy to be around.”

On Friday, March 13, Governor Andrew Cuomo closed school districts across New York state, thereby postponing all school-related activities. With no knowledge as to when — or if — schools may reopen this year, students reached out to one another and to Miller to talk about their fears, anxieties and disappointments. Though their director had a few ideas for how to change the format of the show if need be, the Drama Society must wait to see if school resumes before the end of the academic year. It’s an especially harsh blow for high school seniors who were eager to perform in one last musical before saying goodbye to the Webutuck school district upon graduation.

“I am very upset about the postponement of this year’s production,” said Amy Hayes, a senior who was cast in the role of Rona Lisa Peretti, a former Putnam County Spelling Bee winner and the moderator of the titular spelling bee. “We are all just trying to practice our lines and sing along to the songs on YouTube. I miss every one of my cast members and wish to see them soon.” 

As of this week, Miller said the Webutuck Drama Society “is still in a holding pattern.”