'Spelling Bee' comes to Westport stage

Kids are under a great deal of pressure today to succeed. Whether it's in academics, sports or even theatrical performances, well-meaning parents and friends can easily pressure youngsters into achieving beyond what they are, perhaps, emotionally ready to do.

This is the underlying theme of the musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, produced by Center Stage Theatre Company this weekend. Under the direction of Jill Jaysen, teenage performers portray contestants who reveal a myriad of adolescent challenges as they compete for top prize in a regional spelling bee contest.

Performances are Friday, May 28, Saturday, May 29, and Sunday, May 30, at 8 p.m., and there are two matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Center Stage is located at Seabury Center, 45 Church Lane, Westport. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased one hour prior to the each show at the door. Cash and checks will only be accepted. Advance reservations could be made by e-mailing opedge@hotmail.com

"We always strive to produce shows here that impact both our students and our audiences in a positive and meaningful way," Jaysen explained. "The message of Spelling Bee is that winning isn't everything. I think it's important for parents to recognize that in this show friendship wins out over becoming the winner."

One of the show's raucous, upbeat musical numbers, "Pandemonium," produces a powerful message about all of the different obstacles facing teens in their daily lives.

Several of the cast members admitted that although they don't especially feel anxious by demands put upon them, they have witnessed their classmates struggle with trying to meet unrealistic expectations.

Campbell Gallagher, 17, of Westport, said that she's especially noticed kids at her school, St. Luke's in New Canaan, "freak out" as they went through the college application process. Gallagher will be attending Muhlenberg College this fall as a theater major.

"There were so many kids who were freaking out about grades and were so worried that they wouldn't get a scholarship to an Ivy League college," she said. "Doing this show has helped to give me a new perspective."

Gallagher has been performing in Center Stage productions for the past eight years. "Working here with Jill has changed my life," she said. "It's a challenging environment and Jill keeps everything very professional but we are all really close here."

She said that in both the classrooms and theater departments at school, there is a "cut-throat environment."

Elliott Enriquez, a sophomore at Staples High School, agreed. "Hundreds of people audition for the school plays," he explained.

Annabelle Fox, 18, a senior at Wilton High School, also appreciates the safe atmosphere found at Center Stage where she could study her craft. She also finds time to participate in her high school's drama department's productions and recently played the leading role of Adelaide in the musical, Guys and Dolls.

However, she said that she looks forward to gathering with friends who come from all over Fairfield County to "do shows" at Center Stage. "I've been coming since I was 13 and it's been great to be immersed with other people like me who also love theater," she said.

Aside from teaching acting classes, which are based on the Stanislavski method, Jaysen is thrilled to see a sense of camaraderie develop among her students.

"There is so much pressure for them in the outside world, and yet they can come in here to work on something together and also to just relax and make new friends," she said.

Center Stage's shows for high school students rehearse on Sundays so that the young people could have the opportunity to perform in their school plays.

Jaysen also likes to double cast and, as in the case with Spelling Bee, triple-cast some of the roles. "I want to give everyone an opportunity to have a lead and shine," she said.

She also teaches students auditioning techniques and how to create a theater resume. Erica Intilangelo, 18, a senior at Fairfield Warde High School, said that these skills will undoubtedly be beneficial as she pursues a career in opera. A talented classical singer, Erica will attend the Mannes Conservatory in New York City this fall.

At Center Stage, Intilangelo has not only portrayed ingénue roles, such as Cosette in Les Miserables, but she also delivered a heart-wrenching performance as Fraulein Schneider in Cabaret and a comedic turn in as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Jaysen said.

"She came to me saying that she was a singer, and not an actor, but she had us all in tears in Cabaret and proved in one year that she is very much an actor and a singer," said Jaysen.