Akeelah and The Bee at Coterie
Akeelah and The Bee Showing at Coterie Sept. 20 - Oct. 16, 2022
- PRICE: $12.00 for youth under 18, students, and seniors 60 and older; $15.00 for adults; $6.00-$12.00 for groups of 20 or more
- INFO / RESERVATIONS: The Coterie Box Office Phone: 816.474.6552 Online: www.thecoterie.org
NOTABLE PERFORMANCE EXTRAS During the run of Akeelah and The Bee, The Coterie will offer these special performances:
- Interpreted performance in American Sign Language - October 8 at 2 pm.
- Sensory Friendly performance for neurodiverse audiences featuring technical adjustments, sensory supports, house lights on, and flexible audience expectations - Oct. 6 & 7 (multiple showtimes each day).
This fall, Coterie presents Akeelah and The Bee based on the book by Cheryl L. West and screenplay by Doug Atchison. For those familiar with the film of the same name, the play follows the same basic storyline with a few key changes including the setting - this time set in Chicago.
Akeelah Anderson (played by Anjanee Canady) is an African-American girl growing up in the South Side of Chicago where crime and poverty are prolific. She is the daughter of a widowed mother, Gail (played by SyKnese Fields), (her father having been shot in a mugging) and the sister of Reggie, a struggling young man who is not academic and struggles to make the right choices in life. Gail is working long hours trying to keep food on the table and pay rent, leaving her kids to spend much time navigating life in the inner city on their own.
At school, it is discovered that Akeelah has a gift for spelling when her school principal urges her to compete in the school spelling bee. She doesn't want to be known as the school "brainiac," an attribute that has led to bullying from classmates, but despite this, she performs well and is noticed by Dr. Larabee. Dr. Larabee (played by Walter Coppage) was himself a champion speller, and he takes Akeelah under his wing coaching her to compete effectively at the regional, state, and eventually national levels.
Along the way, Akeelah befriends Javier, a champion speller from an affluent community, and competes against Dylan, a young man with an aggressively competitive father. The students come to emphasize with one another as they grow to understand the challenges each one is facing as they strive to win the bee.
The cast in Coterie's production is truly outstanding. Walter Coppage is one of our most-beloved local actors, having delighted in his performances in The Christmas Carol, The Miracle Worker, James and the Giant Peach, and others. His portrayal of Dr. Larabee is masterful as the tutor with his own touching backstory. He and Akeelah form a special student / mentor bond that fills emptiness they both face.
This heartfelt story leaves the audience with much to contemplate in the way of culture, peer pressure, friendship, family and success. We highly recommend this outstanding performance for families with children ages 9 and up.
Tip: Coterie provides a digital program with excellent questions to ponder under their "Ride Home Reflections" section including:
- Why do you think Akeelah's success was so important to her community?
- How do Akeelah and Georgia react when they visit Javier's house for the first time?
- Why do you think Georgia was angry with Akeelah?
- What makes characters change and become friends along the way?
- Who first taught Akeelah to spell? How does this motivate her?
J Robert Schraeder