More theatre: The Davis Shakespeare Ensemble presents Romeo and Juliet in the arboretum.

See what else the Department of Theatre and Dance has in store for 2010-11, described as a "bountiful, inventive" season.

When the time comes for audience participation in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, look who will be among those raising their hands:

Chancellor Linda Katehi on opening night, Sept. 16; West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon on Sept. 17; and Davis Mayor Don Saylor on Sept. 24. Other VIPs due to participate during the musical comedy's eight-show run include members of the Davis school board, according to a news release from the Department of Theatre and Dance.

The department is presenting Spelling Bee as the finale of a Summer Session II program. The show is being staged in Main Theatre through Sept. 26.

"Celebrity" appearances by Katehi, Calbadon and Saylor will add to the fun of the Broadway story, which revolves around a half-dozen overachieving teens and includes such musical numbers as “I’m Not That Smart,” “The I Love You Song“ and “Pandemonium.”

The show's promoters say, if you like the television show Glee, then you should expect to love The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, described as "a quirky comedy that captures the carefree spirit of youth while bringing out the nerd in all of us."

The director-choreographer is two-time Granada Artist-in-Residence Mindy Cooper (Urinetown: The Musical and Oklahoma!).

The cast comprises UC Davis undergraduates (including one who is due to graduate Sept. 10) and a Master of Fine Arts recipient.

Winning isn't everything

The 2005 Tony Award-winning musical is set in a junior high auditorium, where pubescent misfits learn that winning isn’t everything and that defeat doesn’t necessarily make you a loser. The competition is riotously out of control — with supernatural trances, magic body parts, ulterior motives, and peer and parental pressure.

The characters include reigning champ Chip Tolentino, who has every intention of taking gold if his hormones will allow it; Leaf Coneybear, the home-schooled savant who makes his own clothes; Olive Ostrosky, who worries that her toughest rival will push her out of spelling altogether, while hoping that her mother will someday come to a spelling bee; and Vice Principal Panch, who has returned to the competition after a long hiatus and apologizes for the “incident” at his last bee.

This tale of overachievers’ angst while vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime is told through hilarious and charming song lyrics.

Music director Pete Nowlen, conductor of the UC Davis Concert Band and Wind Ensemble, said: “The lyrics are incredibly clever and cleverly set. Each speller has a beautiful, personal song that reveals some important part of their character.”

The music and lyrics are by William Finn, described by Nowlen as “one of the greatest living composers for the stage.”

“Finn is a master of character development in song, and we end up loving each of these characters for their qualities and their flaws.”

For example, lonely Olive sings “My Friend the Dictionary,” while Chip sings “My Unfortunate Erection,” bemoaning the time his arousal cost him a victory. In singing “I’m Not That Smart,” Leaf confesses that his family does not consider him to be particularly intelligent.

Finally, in a series of epilogues revealing the fates of the characters, we learn how their experiences during the spelling bee shaped each of their lives.

Cooper noted that Spelling Bee originated in improvisational acting — and improv remains an important part of the production, with the actors required to be in the moment and on their toes when working with a different set of audience participants in each show.

Improv-based exercises

“I structured rehearsals to reflect this kind of piece,” Cooper said. “We started with two weeks of improvising on themes from the show, mock spelling bees, character exploration and relationship — all through improv-based exercises. By the time we started staging, so much of the work was already developed.”

Cast members said they appreciate this improvisational freedom. Senior Esteban Gonzalez, who plays Coneybear, said: “Mindy knows what she wants, but allows our individual interpretations of character. She permits us to experiment and go for it. For me, it’s like being a child again.”

James Marchbanks, who portrays Mitch Mahoney and Dan Dad, received his MFA in acting last June and returned to work with Cooper. “She has taught me that nothing is ever wrong in creative choices, to always take chances for the best possible results.”

Cooper led the UC Davis productions of Urinetown in the spring of 2007 and Oklahoma! in the spring of 2009. She is due back in the spring of 2011 for another Granada stint, this time as director of The Who’s Tommy.

Rounding out creative artist team: Thomas J. Munn, professor, lighting designer; Roxanne Femling, costume shop director, costume designer); and students Karyn Noel (scenic designer) and Daniel Jordon (properties designer). Undergraduate Maria Castro is the stage manager.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

WHEN: 8 p.m. Sept. 16-18 and 23-25, and 2 p.m. Sept. 19 and 26. Talk-backs after the Sept. 17 and 24 performances.

WHERE: Main Theatre

TICKETS are available through the Mondavi Center box office: (530) 754-2787 or (866) 754-2787, or mondaviarts.org.

DISCOUNTS: A 10 percent discount is applied to orders for 15 or more tickets for a single performance. Groups of 25 or more receive a 10 percent discount plus two free tickets.

For high school and youth groups of 10 or more, tickets are available for $10 apiece, at the request of teacher s and group leaders. To make arrangements, call the Department of Theatre and Dance publicity office, (530) 752-5863.

ADVISORY: This production is rated PG-13. The Motion Picture Association of America’s rating system defines PG-13 as “parents strongly cautioned; some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.