The curtains will part next week on the musical comedy “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” and with singers like Angela Martin, Kathy Day, Brooke Beatty, Geoffrey Tart and Bruce Creech numbering among a strong cast, our audiences can expect a show full of music and comedy that is a little off-beat but all in good fun.

The cast is all adults, but many of them are playing the part of middle school students that have to spell words most of us would have trouble pronouncing much less spelling. This play was presented on Broadway and received rave reviews because of the fun that the cast had in putting it on and because the audiences loved every minute of it. So come on down to downtown Clinton and see what all the excitement is about. The shows are at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 20 and 27; 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 21 and 28 and 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 22 and 29.

To replace “Hairspray” we are bringing back some skits from the earlier days of television by presenting “The Carol Burnett Show.” This will be directed by G. Wayne Melvin with the production dates in mid-August. Audition dates will be announced later for this comic review.

Angela Martin will be directing the annual Theater Drama Camp Aug. 13 -17. To obtain an application or for more information e-mail Angela at alm2sing@yahoo.com and she will mail application to you. Space is limited so only 50 campers will be accepted. Any child who will begin kindergarden this fall and children up to 12 years old are eligible.

Kara Donatelli, the director of the Sampson Arts Council, has announced that applications for the Lois Weaver Arts Scholarship are being accepted. This is a $500 scholarship for a senior actively involved in the arts. Interested students can call Mrs. Donatelli at the Small House at 596-2533

Hopefully the theater will have its website up and running again in the next few weeks but in the meantime keep up with our activities on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sampsoncommunitytheater.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

2012 shows (all are Patron Sponsor events):

• “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” — Rehearsals ongoing. Productions April 20-22 and 27-29

• “The Wizard Of Oz” — Auditions June 16.

• Annual Summer Drama Camp — Aug. 13-17.

• “The Carol Burnett Show” — Auditions to be announced. Productions Aug. 17, 18, 19, 24, 25 and 26.

• “A Christmas Carol” — Auditions Oct. 27. Performances Dec. 7-9 and 14-16.

THOUGHTS UNTIL NEXT WEEK:

• Education is the progressive discovery of our own ignorance.

• A half truth is a whole lie.

• Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.