Actress Marian Pabón will share the stage with a new generation of Puerto Rican musical theater talent in 'Spelling Bee: La Comedia Musical', running November 13 to 15 at the Centro de Bellas Artes de Santurce under the direction of Edgardo Soto. The musical depicts a spelling competition in which six students try everything to become champions, relying on humor and audience interaction: spectators will be invited to join the competition on stage, creating improvisation that even the cast cannot anticipate, so each performance will be different.
The production is presented by Edgardo Soto Company and Joy111 Foundation. Besides Pabón, the cast includes Edgardo Soto, Yarel Padilla, Eva Kristal Nieves, Adrián Talledo, Neysha Lee Morales, Adrián Seijo, Joseph Centeno and Aliés Muñoz. The press materials say the production bets on emerging Puerto Rican talent, giving young performers the chance to share the stage with established figures of Puerto Rican theater; the 2005 Broadway version won two Tony awards.
Soto said the cast has 'muchísimo talento' and that he is excited to bring together young people doing great work in musical theater with figures like Pabón, adding that 'Spelling Bee' is a very funny comedy with a story everyone can identify with. The story addresses the pressures children face to meet others’ expectations, the fear of making mistakes, and the importance of understanding that one does not always have to win to feel proud. Tickets are available at Ticketera and tcpr.com.