The Greater Company Players, the joint theater club of Lasell University and Regis College, put on their fall musical, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” on Nov. 20-22, 2025. The production, staged at Regis’s Eleanor Welch Casey Theatre, was a great success and an enjoyable, funny watch. Audience members were immersed, both literally and figuratively, in the chaotic world of a middle-school spelling bee filled with larger-than-life characters.
Each actor sold both the humor and pandemonium, as the show puts it, that comes with the setting of pre-teens attempting to navigate big emotions and a stressful competition. Particular standouts include Lasell students Ava Moussalem, who played the shy Olive Ostrovsky, and Ryl Valiente, who played the spelling bee’s champion William Barfee. Moussalem shone in their solos and brought heart to the ridiculous premise. The audience could not help but root for Olive as she wished for her parents’ support in the bee. Valiente kept the audience laughing throughout the show, and their solo “Magic Foot” was a crowd favorite.
The ensemble numbers went well for the production, and each cast member nailed the choreography. Nothing felt too chaotic, but, at the same time, no numbers were too simple. “Pandemonium” showcased every actor, and it was clear the cast was having fun within the number’s organized chaos.
Audience members enjoyed the show’s interactive element when four audience members were called up to participate in the spelling bee. The viewers were surprised by this move, but it was a joy to watch. The surprised guests nailed their words – for the most part – and it was a hilarious addition to the show.
The scenic design in the show was a great addition to the production. It was not too simple, and really placed the audience into the middle-school world, which was certainly nostalgic for some of the crowd. Reading the “chalkboard” in the back, full of messages about each character, was an added level of entertainment.
On the downside, it was difficult at times to hear the actors during musical numbers, which detracted from some moments and made the messages of a few songs a little unclear. It did not completely hinder the experience, however, and the audience did not seem to mind too much.
The Greater Company Players were a joy to watch in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” The production was a success and a great way to spend a Friday night.
–Dec. 8, 2025–
