Jason Liu Cast in Penn State Behrend Theater Production

2013 Nov 5

Jason Liu, of Chengdu, has joined the cast of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," the fall production of the Studio Theatre at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College. The seven-show run began Friday, Nov. 1.

Liu, a sophomore, won the role of Chip Tolentino, a key character in "Putnam County," a musical comedy that doesn't dumb down.

"It's part of a very rare breed of musicals that somehow manage to be hugely entertaining but also incredibly smart and sophisticated," said David Vegh, the show's director and a lecturer in theater at Penn State Behrend. "It's a slam-dunk for anyone who loves musical theater, but it will have just as much appeal to fans of 'The Colbert Report.' That, to me, is a very rare thing."

The show, with music and lyrics by William Finn and book by Rachel Sheinkin, continues through Nov. 10. Performances will be held in the Studio Theatre at Penn State Behrend, a comprehensive residential college with more than 4,600 students. For more information, visit behrend.psu.edu.