Spotlight Productions
Spotlight on the Holidays - Buy Tickets Now!
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5 | SATURDAY DECEMBER 6, 2025
Spotlight on the Holidays
Join us in Sammamish for a joyful celebration that brings our community together in the true spirit of the season! Spotlight on the Holidays is the perfect way to kick off December, with performances on December 5th and 6th that will warm your heart and lift your spirits.
Enjoy festive performances by the Spotlight Concert Choir, our talented adult ensemble directed by Jeffrey Moidel; along with the Rising and Shining Stars, featuring our amazing young musical theater performers directed by Natalie Grover, Marika Galvin, and Frances Garcia Hoffman. Together, they’ll fill the evening with classic holiday favorites, lively tunes, and heartwarming moments.
And don’t be shy—there will be a few sing-along songs so everyone can join in the cheer! Bring your family, friends, and neighbors for a night of music, laughter, and community celebration that truly lights up the season.
A Walk Down Center Stage with Spotlight
Spotlight Community Music Productions
Spotlight is known for its high quality music productions showcasing talented groups of all ages from elementary to adults.
We look forward to performing our next show! Please check back frequently for updates to our next offering.
For more information, email info@spotlightrepnw.org.
In the meantime, please enjoy our walk down center stage of past Spotlight productions!
THURSDAY, AUGUST 14 | FRIDAY, AUGUST 15 | SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2025
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Rated: PG-13
Winner of the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee has charmed audiences nationwide with its effortless wit and humor. With a fresh, vibrant score by William Finn and a fast-paced, hilarious book by Rachel Sheinkin, this musical delivers one unforgettable experience.
An eclectic group of six quirky tweens—each with their own hilarious and touching story—compete for the spelling championship of a lifetime. One by one, they face off with (sometimes made-up) words, doing everything they can to avoid the dreaded “ding” of elimination. Only one will win... but at least the rest get a juice box.
Complete with audience participation and packed with heart and humor, Spelling Bee is a riotous crowd-pleaser and a must-see for theatre lovers of all ages.
Performances:
Thursday, August 14 | 7:00 PM (blue cast)
Friday, August 15 | 7:00 PM (yellow cast)
Saturday, August 16 | 1:00 PM (yellow cast)
Saturday, August 16 | 7:00 PM (blue cast)
Director – Stephan Nieman
Stephan Nieman is a Jewish-American Theatre Director based in the LA area. He recently graduated from the prestigious East 15 Acting School (#1 Drama School in the UK) and received his MFA in Directing with Merit. He graduated from CSUN in 2018 with a bachelor’s in Theatre Arts. He started directing at the age of 16.
Stephan’s most recent theatre credits include The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals, Cold Sassy Tree, The Lesson by Ienesco, Democracy by Rhys Clark, Paula Vogel’s Indecent, Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night, The Pillowman, The Diary of Anne Frank, Blood on Thy Hands, Titus Andronicus, Connections and Confrontations, Trail to Oregon, and The Gondoliers.
His most significant influence has been the studies of Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed, Aristotle’s Poetics, and Bertolt Brecht’s Epic Theatre. He is excited to direct Putnam County Spelling Bee, one of his favorite shows of all time!
Website: sndirector.com
Instagram: Snieman17
Music Director – Gianugo Rabellino
Gianugo is a classically trained singer, pianist, composer and arranger. After completing his studies with celebrated singers such as Daniela Aimale and Luciano Saldari, he performed in several opera roles while graduating from Law School. His passion for innovation, open source and accessibility fueled a long and successful career in technology that eventually brought him all the way to the USA and the beautiful PNW, where he spent more than a decade as a principal in Microsoft. After retirement, he is grateful for the opportunity to go back to his long standing love for music, as well as to pursue his new found passion for teaching students how their voice can be a powerful way to express themselves. In his free time he likes to spend time with his two teenagers (who are both talented singers), his wife of 25+ years (who cannot carry a tune) and two labrador dogs (who are quite decent at barking).
Pit Director – Benjamin Bentler
Benjamin Bentler (Conductor/Keyboard) is delighted to be buzzing back into the pit for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee! Past credits include music direction and performance work with The Marriott Theatre in Chicago, The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, and Village Theatre in Issaquah.
A huge thank you to Frances for the invitation to come play (and conduct!) this quirky and wonderful show. Love and gratitude always to my incredible husband, my endlessly supportive family, and my sweet pup Toby, who has the best ears in the business—even if he doesn’t know how to spell “capybara.”
SATURDAY APRIL 5, 2025
Experience an unforgettable evening of breathtaking choral music at Harmonies of the Heart: Epic Choral Masterpieces, a concert celebrating the power and beauty of the human voice.
Featuring the esteemed Spotlight Concert Choir, under the direction of Jeffrey Moidel, and the renowned Octava Chamber Orchestra, led by Matt Weiss, this performance brings together soaring melodies, rich harmonies, and stirring orchestration. Joining the ensemble are acclaimed soloists Frances Hoffman Garcia and Charles Robert Stephen whose vocal artistry will bring passion and depth to the program.
Don’t miss this extraordinary musical event—where voices unite, hearts resonate, and the power of music takes center stage. From grand, sweeping anthems to intimate, expressive works, Harmonies of the Heart promises a night of epic choral music that will uplift and inspire audiences of all ages.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 6 and SATURDAY DECEMBER 7, 2024
Haul Out the Holly: Songs of the Season is Spotlight's most festive production of the year, featuring the Spotlight Concert Choir and the talented youth from our Rising & Shining Stars musical theater classes. Enjoy a diverse lineup of seasonal songs, showcasing local talent in a concert that captures the joy and magic of the holidays. Join us with family and friends to kick off the season in style!
Friday December 6th & Saturday December 7th at 7:00pm
FRIDAY AUGUST 16 and SATURDAY AUGUST 17, 2024
August 16th at 7:30pm & August 17th at 7:00pm
My name is Spencer Barber, I am a youth theatre actor around the Seattle area. I have been in such productions as: The Prom at Village Theatre, Somethings Afoot RSP at the 5th Avenue Theatre, and am in an upcoming production of Mean Girls at Studio East. Spotlight Rep holds a very special place in my heart, as it was my first experience with theatre. I fully believe that if I were not in the shows and camps throughout middle school, I would not be attending college for musical theatre in the fall. The whole organization and all of the faculty and members are all so loving and caring and do such a great job of supporting and helping young artists.
SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
The Seattle Spotlight Jazz Ensembles (SSJE), Spotlight Concert Choir (SCC), and The Royals
May 19th @ 6pm at 1715 228th Ave SE, Sammamish WA 98075
SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
The Seattle Spotlight Jazz Ensembles (SSJE)
April 20th @ 5pm at Boxley's Jazz Club NW, 228 W North Bend Way Ste A North Bend, WA 98045
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2024
The Spotlight Concert Choir (SCC)
Saturday, March 23rd @ 2pm at Pine Lake Covenant Church, 1715 228th Ave SE, Sammamish, WA 98075
Featuring Special Guest Artist Sarah Mattox
Mezzo-soprano Sarah Mattox has sung principal roles with many companies nationally, including Seattle Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Chicago Opera Theatre, Lyric Opera Cleveland and many others. Favorite roles include the title characters in Carmen and Cendrillon, and Dorabella in Cosi fan Tutte. In 2005, she won First Prize in the Belle Voci National Competition. Also at home on the concert stage, Ms. Mattox has appeared as a soloist with the Seattle Symphony, Northwest Sinfonietta, Cascade Festival of Music, Seattle Baroque Orchestra and many others. April 2010 marked her fourth appearance as a concert soloist at Carnegie Hall in New York. An award-winning composer, Mattox was a 2014 fellow at the John Duffy Composers Institute. For a complete schedule visit: sarah.mattox@comcast.net.
FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2024
The Seattle Spotlight Jazz Ensembles (SSJE)
Friday, March 15th @ 9pm at Egan's Ballard Jam House, 1707 NW Market St, Seattle, WA 98107
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2024
The Spotlight Concert Choir (SCC)
Saturday, November 11th @ 2pm at Pine Lake Covenant Church, 1715 228th Ave SE, Sammamish, WA 98075
SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023
The Spotlight Concert Choir (SCC)
Saturday, May 6th @ 2pm at Pine Lake Covenant Church, 1715 228th Ave SE, Sammamish, WA 98075
![cabaret 2019 poster 18x24_4-30[9117]](https://spotlightrepnw.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cabaret-2019-poster-18x24_4-309117-300x225.jpg "cabaret 2019 poster 18x24_4-30[9117]")
THURSDAY, AUGUST 14 | FRIDAY, AUGUST 15 | SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2025
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Rated: PG-13
Winner of the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee has charmed audiences nationwide with its effortless wit and humor. With a fresh, vibrant score by William Finn and a fast-paced, hilarious book by Rachel Sheinkin, this musical delivers one unforgettable experience.
An eclectic group of six quirky tweens—each with their own hilarious and touching story—compete for the spelling championship of a lifetime. One by one, they face off with (sometimes made-up) words, doing everything they can to avoid the dreaded “ding” of elimination. Only one will win... but at least the rest get a juice box.
Complete with audience participation and packed with heart and humor, Spelling Bee is a riotous crowd-pleaser and a must-see for theatre lovers of all ages.
Performances:
Thursday, August 14 | 7:00 PM (blue cast)
Friday, August 15 | 7:00 PM (yellow cast)
Saturday, August 16 | 1:00 PM (yellow cast)
Saturday, August 16 | 7:00 PM (blue cast)
Director – Stephan Nieman
Stephan Nieman is a Jewish-American Theatre Director based in the LA area. He recently graduated from the prestigious East 15 Acting School (#1 Drama School in the UK) and received his MFA in Directing with Merit. He graduated from CSUN in 2018 with a bachelor’s in Theatre Arts. He started directing at the age of 16.
Stephan’s most recent theatre credits include The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals, Cold Sassy Tree, The Lesson by Ienesco, Democracy by Rhys Clark, Paula Vogel’s Indecent, Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night, The Pillowman, The Diary of Anne Frank, Blood on Thy Hands, Titus Andronicus, Connections and Confrontations, Trail to Oregon, and The Gondoliers.
His most significant influence has been the studies of Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed, Aristotle’s Poetics, and Bertolt Brecht’s Epic Theatre. He is excited to direct Putnam County Spelling Bee, one of his favorite shows of all time!
Website: sndirector.com
Instagram: Snieman17
Music Director – Gianugo Rabellino
Gianugo is a classically trained singer, pianist, composer and arranger. After completing his studies with celebrated singers such as Daniela Aimale and Luciano Saldari, he performed in several opera roles while graduating from Law School. His passion for innovation, open source and accessibility fueled a long and successful career in technology that eventually brought him all the way to the USA and the beautiful PNW, where he spent more than a decade as a principal in Microsoft. After retirement, he is grateful for the opportunity to go back to his long standing love for music, as well as to pursue his new found passion for teaching students how their voice can be a powerful way to express themselves. In his free time he likes to spend time with his two teenagers (who are both talented singers), his wife of 25+ years (who cannot carry a tune) and two labrador dogs (who are quite decent at barking).
Pit Director – Benjamin Bentler
Benjamin Bentler (Conductor/Keyboard) is delighted to be buzzing back into the pit for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee! Past credits include music direction and performance work with The Marriott Theatre in Chicago, The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, and Village Theatre in Issaquah.
A huge thank you to Frances for the invitation to come play (and conduct!) this quirky and wonderful show. Love and gratitude always to my incredible husband, my endlessly supportive family, and my sweet pup Toby, who has the best ears in the business—even if he doesn’t know how to spell “capybara.”
A Walk Down Center Stage with Spotlight
Spotlight Community Music Productions
Spotlight is known for its high quality music productions showcasing talented groups of all ages from elementary to adults.
We look forward to performing our next show! Please check back frequently for updates to our next offering.
For more information, email info@spotlightrepnw.org.
In the meantime, please enjoy our walk down center stage of past Spotlight productions!
SATURDAY APRIL 5, 2025
Experience an unforgettable evening of breathtaking choral music at Harmonies of the Heart: Epic Choral Masterpieces, a concert celebrating the power and beauty of the human voice.
Featuring the esteemed Spotlight Concert Choir, under the direction of Jeffrey Moidel, and the renowned Octava Chamber Orchestra, led by Matt Weiss, this performance brings together soaring melodies, rich harmonies, and stirring orchestration. Joining the ensemble are acclaimed soloists Frances Hoffman Garcia and Charles Robert Stephen whose vocal artistry will bring passion and depth to the program.
Don’t miss this extraordinary musical event—where voices unite, hearts resonate, and the power of music takes center stage. From grand, sweeping anthems to intimate, expressive works, Harmonies of the Heart promises a night of epic choral music that will uplift and inspire audiences of all ages.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 6 and SATURDAY DECEMBER 7, 2024
Haul Out the Holly: Songs of the Season is Spotlight's most festive production of the year, featuring the Spotlight Concert Choir and the talented youth from our Rising & Shining Stars musical theater classes. Enjoy a diverse lineup of seasonal songs, showcasing local talent in a concert that captures the joy and magic of the holidays. Join us with family and friends to kick off the season in style!
Friday December 6th & Saturday December 7th at 7:00pm
FRIDAY AUGUST 16 and SATURDAY AUGUST 17, 2024
August 16th at 7:30pm & August 17th at 7:00pm
My name is Spencer Barber, I am a youth theatre actor around the Seattle area. I have been in such productions as: The Prom at Village Theatre, Somethings Afoot RSP at the 5th Avenue Theatre, and am in an upcoming production of Mean Girls at Studio East. Spotlight Rep holds a very special place in my heart, as it was my first experience with theatre. I fully believe that if I were not in the shows and camps throughout middle school, I would not be attending college for musical theatre in the fall. The whole organization and all of the faculty and members are all so loving and caring and do such a great job of supporting and helping young artists.
SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
The Seattle Spotlight Jazz Ensembles (SSJE), Spotlight Concert Choir (SCC), and The Royals
May 19th @ 6pm at 1715 228th Ave SE, Sammamish WA 98075
SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
The Seattle Spotlight Jazz Ensembles (SSJE)
April 20th @ 5pm at Boxley's Jazz Club NW, 228 W North Bend Way Ste A North Bend, WA 98045
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2024
The Spotlight Concert Choir (SCC)
Saturday, March 23rd @ 2pm at Pine Lake Covenant Church, 1715 228th Ave SE, Sammamish, WA 98075
Featuring Special Guest Artist Sarah Mattox
Mezzo-soprano Sarah Mattox has sung principal roles with many companies nationally, including Seattle Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Chicago Opera Theatre, Lyric Opera Cleveland and many others. Favorite roles include the title characters in Carmen and Cendrillon, and Dorabella in Cosi fan Tutte. In 2005, she won First Prize in the Belle Voci National Competition. Also at home on the concert stage, Ms. Mattox has appeared as a soloist with the Seattle Symphony, Northwest Sinfonietta, Cascade Festival of Music, Seattle Baroque Orchestra and many others. April 2010 marked her fourth appearance as a concert soloist at Carnegie Hall in New York. An award-winning composer, Mattox was a 2014 fellow at the John Duffy Composers Institute. For a complete schedule visit: sarah.mattox@comcast.net.
FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2024
The Seattle Spotlight Jazz Ensembles (SSJE)
Friday, March 15th @ 9pm at Egan's Ballard Jam House, 1707 NW Market St, Seattle, WA 98107
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2024
The Spotlight Concert Choir (SCC)
Saturday, November 11th @ 2pm at Pine Lake Covenant Church, 1715 228th Ave SE, Sammamish, WA 98075
SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023
The Spotlight Concert Choir (SCC)
Saturday, May 6th @ 2pm at Pine Lake Covenant Church, 1715 228th Ave SE, Sammamish, WA 98075