About

Winner of the Tony and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, conceived by Rebecca Feldman, has charmed audiences across the country with its effortless wit and humor. Featuring a fast-paced, wildly funny, and touching book by Rachel Sheinkin and a truly fresh and vibrant score by William Finn (Composer of FALSETTOS), this bee is one unforgettable experience. An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents (all portrayed by adult actors) 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-unaffirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake.
Six spellers enter... one speller leaves victorious! The losers get a hug and a juice box.

The production also includes a novelty not often seen in a Broadway musical, as four members of each night’s audience get a chance to shine when they are invited to the stage to compete as spellers during the first act of the show!

The show would be rated PG-13 for strong language and some sexual content (dealing with the “complications” of male puberty) and is recommended for youth 13 and over. To allow the show to be accessible to a wider audience, four matinee performances on October 23, 24, 30 and 31 will be performed with most of the language and sexual content adjusted to be acceptable for younger children aged 8 and above.