Gallery • 4 Photos

Kelli Ferre

Rhea Johnston (11) has been in several Perry High School performances, and now has a lead role in the musical "The 15th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee". She practices her part during the dress rehearsal to be ready to perform in front of her peers. Photo by Kelli Ferré

You walk into the auditorium and find a seat. It’s the 25th annual Putnam musical and on stage are the seats for the ‘contestants’ and a table and chairs for the judges. The lights dim, the music starts and the actors come on stage. Although the main contestants present themselves by giving an awe-striking performance, your eyes continually drift toward the character of Rona Lisa Peretti, and her “warm and inviting voice, reminiscent of when she won the bee 25 years ago,” Rachel Sharp stated.

Character Rona Lisa Peretti is interpreted differently by Junior, Rhea Johnston, who plays her. “I watched some performances of the show and tried my best to put my own spin on the character,” explained Rhea Johnston.

Johnston’s character shows what her personality is like, but also what her character is portrayed as. Rhea described her character as “a kooky real estate agent who won the spelling be herself when she was a kid,” and kooky is the word that makes Rhea Johnston’s character her own.

When Johnston practices her character for upcoming shows, she doesn’t make it boring and she has been practicing for years.

This will be the second time Johnston and her cast mates will perform The 25th annual Putnam County spelling bee and this time they will perform at nationals. “This show has a special place in my heart and I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything in the world.” Johnston continued, “We have worked so hard and I’m so proud of my cast mates.” Johnston and her cast mates will perform this show with an exhilarating touch. This show will be performed at Nationals, so Perry Theater can show their talent to other performers.