JULY 29 • 2021 | 33

L

auren Landman grew up in Michigan 
surrounded by a three-generation 
family of theater fans and community 
theater performers. In Chicago, an aunt and 
uncle (Naomi Landman and Neil Tobin) 
could be seen on professional 
stages.
What Landman enjoyed 
most at age 6 seemed to fit 
in with her heritage and sur-
roundings without ever chang-
ing. A role as an orphan in a 
community theater production 
of Annie cemented her interest.
Twenty-one years later, while pursuing a 
theater career in New York, she has returned 
to Michigan as part of the ensemble cast of 
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling 
Bee, which is being presented July 28-31 by 
the Nicely Theatre Group enhanced by a 
live band. Although planned as an outdoor 
show on the grounds of the Berman Center 
for the Performing Arts in West Bloomfield, 

the production can be readily switched 
inside if the weather dictates.
“I’ve never performed in a show outdoors 
before, but I’ve seen shows outdoors,
” said 
Landman, who portrays one of six adoles-
cents competing to surpass opponents as 
each presents special challenges amid the 
tension of the bee. 
“Mitch Master, our director, and David 
Carroll, our producer, have some exciting 
ideas about how to incorporate doing the 
show outdoors, and we have exciting visions 
before and after the show to really help wel-
come audiences into the environment. We’re 
going to be miked and have food trucks, 
weather permitting.
”
Landman takes on the role of Logainne 
Schwartzandgrubenierre, the daughter of 
two gay men pushing her to excel as written 
in the script by Rachel Sheinkin and the 
score by William Finn. 
“
All of the children’s roles are written to be 
larger than life,
” Landman said. “
Although 

they are caricatures, we’ve been focusing 
on making these kids’ stories authentic and 
relatable. 
“My character is a bit insecure, so she 
overcompensates for it by showing a lot of 
confidence even though it isn’t always genu-
ine. Schwartzy, as she is nicknamed, makes 
connections during the bee and learns how 
to stand up to the pressure that her fathers 
are always placing on her. 
“My main song is ‘Woe Is Me,
’ which 
laments all the pressure. It’s very fast and 

continued on page 34

Lauren 
Landman

ARTS&LIFE
THEATER

Putnam County actress has 
rich theatrical heritage.
Putnam County actress has 
Casting
a Spell

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
DETAILS
The 25th Annual Putnam County 
Spelling Bee is being performed 
at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 
July 28-31, on the grounds of the 
Berman Center for the Performing 
Arts in West Bloomfield. $25. 
Grounds open at 7:30 p.m. for 
refreshments and music. Bring 
your own chairs and blankets. 
nicelytheatregroup.org.

Cast (from left): 
Lauren Landman, 
Mitchell J. Hardy, 
Erin Johnson, 
Jason Bowen,
Alec Diem and 
Maryanna Lauter.

NICELY THEATRE GROUP

