And the spelling bee winner is ...

Do you want the chance to win a spelling bee?
If the answer is yes, the Ritz Community Theatre will be the place to be next week. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will be staged at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. 
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and may be purchased online at www.ritzcommunitytheatre.org.
Director Glenn Burns promised the audience will be involved in the production.
“We will be picking four members of the audience to compete in the spelling bee,” he said.
The entire cast is Luz Valdez, Olivia Haley, Hunter McCarter, Kaitlyn Crane, Sarah Crager, Ian Row, Anthony Galindo and Chad Goebel. Burns pointed out several are recent high school graduates. 
“This is a really good cast to work with,” Burns said. “They are working hard to put on a great show.”
Crane, a senior at Snyder High School, is the youngest cast member, but she has performed with many of her cast mates before. She said working in the community theater is different than working with the high school’s Golden Theater Company.
“This is serious, but more relaxed,” she said of the Ritz production. “At the high school, it is super crazy and serious.”
Crane said she is excited to have the chance to perform one last time with friends.
“These are my buddies and I love to perform with them,” she said.
In addition to playing spellers, many cast members have additional roles. 
Row said he had to show “the utmost respect” for one of his characters. But if you want to know which it is, Row said you will have to attend.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will not be the only production taking the stage at the Ritz next week. 
After the Saturday night performance, the Ritz board of governors will host the inaugural Ritzy Awards. The public voted on the nominees and the winners will be announced.
The nominees were:
Outstanding Leading Actor: Bryan Brunson in The Lion in Winter, Hunter McCarter in Deathrap, Chad Goebel in A Doublewide, Texas Christmas, James Jones in A Doublewide, Texas Christmas and Glenn Burns in Deathrap.
Outstanding Leading Actress: Karri Brunson in Last Round-Up of the Guacamole Queens, Nancy Harris in The Lion in Winter, Stacy Haley in Last Round-Up of the Guacamole Queens, Dava Robbins in Last Round-Up of the Guacamole Queens and Emily Heiman in Annie Jr.
Outstanding Supporting Actress: Becky Polston in Last Round-Up of the Guacamole Queens, Nancy Harris in Last Round-Up of the Guacamole Queens, Michelle Sosa in Last Round-Up of the Guacamole Queens, Megan Lewis in Deathtrap and Jennelle Cynthia in Last Round-Up of the Guacamole Queens.
Outstanding Supporting Actor: Hunter McCarter in Annie Jr., Glenn Burns in Quilters, Chad Goebel in Last Round-Up of Guacamole Queens, Bryan Brunson in Last Round-Up of the Guacamole Queens and Ian Row in Deathtrap.
Outstanding Set Design: Erika Jayne Christian for Quilters, Kyle Rosson for A Doublewide, Texas Christmas, Glenn Burns for Last Round-Up of the Guacamole Queens, Luz Valdez for Annie Jr. and Glenn Burns for The Lion in Winter.
Outstanding Production: Annie Jr., Last Round-Up of the Guacamole Queens, The Lion in Winter, A Doublewide, Texas Christmas and Deathtrap.