The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Music & Lyrics by William Finn, Book by Rachel Sheinkin

Directed by Alick Draper

Music Directed by Katie Morton

Choreography by Grace Stevenson

At the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee we meet an eclectic and eccentric group of prepubescent spellers who have their eyes firmly set on victory. From absent parents to overbearing parents, rare mucous membrane disorders to poorly timed erections; as the rounds go by we begin to understand each speller’s quirks, obstacles and ambitions, often through William Finn’s tuneful score.

With guest spellers at each performance to keep our regular spellers on their toes, Spelling Bee guarantees to be a hilarious musical-comedy packed with warmth and wit.

Director's Note

"Spelling Bee's secret weapon is that you as an audience member get the opportunity to compete in the competition. When I saw this show years ago in London, I was the first eliminated Speller, so I have a score to settle with this show, which is what brought me to the table. Due to the premise of the show, improvisation is at the heart of these rapid 90 minutes, which can be pretty daunting. Thankfully we have an absolutely knockout cast who are relentlessly adding hilarious new material, often leaving me in tears."

- Alick Draper