Two live shows slated for parish stages this weekend

Theater patrons have two different options for live shows this weekend, with Hahnville High School’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee gracing the school’s stage and The Little Mermen slated the Dr. Rodney R. Lafon Performing Arts Center.

HHS Talented Theatre Teacher Lucas Harms said he has 11 students on starring on stage in the spelling bee themed show. A total of 30 students are involved in the production.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee showcases an eclectic group of six mid-pubescents as they vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime.

“We started working on it in January,” Harms said. “It’s a family-friendly show that features some audience participation and revolves around a group of 6 to 12 year olds. It reminds you kind of what it was like to a child at that age.”

The show will take place at the HHS Auditorium, located at 200 Tiger Drive in Boutte. All four shows – March 24, March 25, March 31, and April 1 – will all be at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at lafonartscenter.org.

“The schedule of a split weekend schedule allows for growth for the actors,” Harms said. “They get some time to think about their performances and think of ways to grow their characters. This group … they’re extremely hard workers. They’ve been putting in the hours. They work well together, and they collaborate really well. From the production crew to the cast … I’m just really proud of them.”

The other show available to audiences this weekend is The Little Mermen. The March 25 show will take place at 11 a.m. at the Lafon Center, located at 275 Judge E. Dufresne Parkway in Luling. Tickets are available at lafonartscenter.org.

The Little Mermen is a Disney cover band for Disney fanatics of all ages. The band’s repertoire covers all 82 years of the Disney canon, including favorites from The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Mary Poppins and Frozen. The group performs in full costume with band members dressing up as characters from the films. They tour nationally to sold out crowds of cosplayers and casual fans alike.