19:45, Tue 11th – Sat 15th June 2024 at ADC Theatre
Easter Week 7

A cartoonish, eclectic group of six overachieving mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home life, the tweens spell their way through a series of [potentially made-up] words. Each hope to never hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming "ding" of the bell that signals a spelling mistake, and the overstated feeling of failure that resonates with overachievers everywhere. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves! At least the losers get a juice box.

Complete with an engaging, tuneful score by William Finn and a sweet, funny book by Rachel Sheinkin, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee causes audiences to fall in love, both with the show itself and its “perspicacious,” “jocular,” and “effervescent” spellers.