Come join us for our first musical production in over two years! This show is a riotous ride, complete with audience participation. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a delightful den of comedic genius. Winner of the Tony and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, this fabulous musical features a fast-paced, wildly funny, and touching book by Rachel Sheinkin and a truly fresh and vibrant score by William Finn, this bee is one unforgettable experience.

SYNOPSIS:
An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming "ding" of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves! At least the losers get a juice box.

Character Descriptions

The Spellers:
Chip Tolentino: Champion of the 24th annual Spelling Bee, he returns to defend his title, but he finds puberty hitting at the most inopportune moments.

William Barfée: A Finalist last year, but eliminated because of health reasons (someone put peanuts in the brownies). His famous "Magic Foot" method of spelling had boosted him to spelling glory, even though he only has one working nostril, a touchy personality, a severe peanut allergy, and the mistaken belief that he looks good in shorts (not to mention an easily-mispronounced last name. It's Bar-Fay).

Olive Ostrovsky: The young newcomer to the spelling world. Her mother is in an ashram in India and her father is working late, as usual, but he's trying to make it. She made friends with her dictionary at a very young age, and here she is.

Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre: Logainne is the youngest and most politically aware speller, with two stage dads who would make Mamma Rose blush. Perhaps the most rabid competitor of the bunch. She suffers with an annoying lisp.

Leaf Coneybear: The Second runner-up in his district (the winner and first runner-up had to go to a Bat Mitzvah), Leaf comes from a large family of former hippies and makes his own clothes. He's not really that smart, but his heart is in the right place and he has a unique talent for pulling obscure words out of the air. All of the children in his family are named after plants, and all of his words are South-American Rodents.

Marcy Park: A recent transfer from Virginia, Marcy placed 9th in last year's nationals. She speaks six Languages, is a member of all-American Hockey, plays Chopin and Mozart on multiple instruments, sleeps three hours a night, hides in the bathroom cabinet, and is getting very tired of always winning.

The Adults:
Rona Lisa Peretti: The #1 realtor in Putnam County, a former Putnam County Spelling Bee Champ (at the 3rd annual Bee) and returning moderator. Sweet but stern.

Vice Principal Douglas Panch: After five years' absence from the Bee, Veep Panche is back as word pronouncer and judge. The "incident" of the 20th annual Bee is almost totally forgotten, and he's in a much better place now, thanks to a high-fiber diet and Jungian analysis.

Mitch Mahoney: The Official Comfort Counselor. Mitch is serving his court-ordered community service with the Bee, and he might find he has a knack for hugs and handing out juice boxes or slapping all these annoying kids around to teach them a life lesson. He is not sure which.

The Parents and Others:
Carl Schwartz: One of Schwartzy's dads, he's set on his heart on his little girl winning the bee, no matter what he has to do. Tries to sabotage William's foot.

Dan Grubenierre: One of Schwartzy's dads, he's slightly less insane than Carl (but still intent on getting his baby the gold).

Leaf's Mom: Overprotective and doubtful of her son's abilities to stand up to the competition.

Leaf's siblings, Marigold, Brooke, Pinecone, Landscape, Raisin, and Paul: Not very confident of Leaf's abilities.

Olive's Mom and Dad: She's in India, he's working late, but they appear in Olive's imagination to encourage her and tell her they love her.

Jesus: Appears to Marcy in a moment of crisis.