Spelling Bee Champ
"Buzzes" In

University Communications & Marketing

Anamika Veeramani, winner of the 2010 Scripps National Spelling Bee, found herself on a different kind of stage. The 14-year-old resident of North Royalton, Ohio, served as a special guest of Porthouse Theatre, the outdoor, summer theatre of Kent State University’s School of Theatre and Dance. Veeramani appeared onstage in a recent performance of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

 In addition to appearing with the cast in the Broadway musical production, Veeramani donated her winning dictionary to the nonprofit organization Safer Futures, which happened to have its annual fundraiser at Porthouse Theatre. Veeramani met with the guests and organizers of Safer Futures prior to the show, and the dictionary garnered $135 for the Portage County nonprofit’s silent auction.

Porthouse Theatre’s Artistic Director Terri Kent had pledged to make a $100 donation to Safer Futures in Veeramani’s name if she joined the cast that night as a “guest speller” during the first act of the show. With Veeramani’s attendance and participation in the show, Kent fulfilled her promise, making the donation. The spelling bee champ also met the entire cast following the show.

Porthouse Theatre is located on the grounds of Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. For more information or to see a schedule of upcoming shows, visit http://dept.kent.edu/theatre/porthouse/index.html.