Putnam County Spelling Bee Broadway Tickets

	View All Putnam County Spelling Bee Broadway Tickets Venue: Circle In The Square Address: 1633 Broadway at 50th Street Length: 1 hour 45 minutes with one 15 minute intermission Opened: May 2, 2005 Category: Original Musical Comedy

	History :: Now Playing :: Schedule :: Reviews

This appealing production opened to rave reviews in April of 2005 at Broadways Circle in the Square Theatre. The show first had a successful off Broadway run where it was extended due to strong word of mouth and very favorable reviews. The show centers around a fictitious spelling bee where six young students learn that winning isn’t always everything and losing doesn’t make you a loser. It is a hilarious tale of overachievers with smart, hip dialogue and simple yet powerful songs.

The show began as a non-musical entitled C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E that was performed by a New York based improvisational group called “The Farm” before it was turned into a full length musical now known as The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The production showcases the experiences of six adolescents, all played by adult actors, trying to win the spelling bee championship of a lifetime. The cast of characters are an adorable collection of six nerdy kids who are trying to deal with adolescence, junior high, and all that goes with it, and pushy parents. The one place they all seem to actually fit in is at the spelling bee. Throughout the course of the play, the children rise above the demands of their parents and the pressures of competition. And, while their can only be one winner the audience is rooting for them all to somehow pull through. Each contestant learns from their experience and is somehow changed forever.

One unique aspect of this show is the use of audience participation during the competition. Before each performance four audience members are picked during pre-show lobby interviews and questionnaires. The four willing contestants are then cast as on-stage guest spellers who are pitted against the six main characters. This creates risky and sometimes funny situations. It certainly poses the opportunity for a very different experience at each performance depending on who is picked from the audience. The show not only earned rave reviews, but in 2005 it was nominated for six Tony Awards and won two including Best Book of a Musical and Best Features Actor in a Musical. This witty production also made back its initial investment of $3.5 million eighteen weeks after opening on Broadway. This is considered an impressive task for what was a relatively unknown show. The “Little Engine That Could” storyline and the audience participation segment seem to be working considering more and more people are drawn to this production.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is one of those shows that make you feel good. Who among us hasn’t wanted to achieve at something and feel the satisfaction of winning? The audience becomes so wrapped up in these kids’ lives that they begin to empathize with them. This production has an entertaining cast with a lot of heart. It is one of those shows you can see again and again. It is a story that doesn’t get old, and is expected to have a long run on Broadway. This comedy is an all around hit!

	Show Times Matinee: Sat 2pm Sun 3pm Evening: Tue 7pm Wed - Sat 8pm Sun 7:30pm Directions Take the 1 and 9 trains to 50th Street & Broadway. Take the N, R trains to 49th Street & 7th Avenue. Take the B, D, E trains to 53rd Street & 7th Avenue.

	Cast Derrick Baskin, Mitch Mahoney Deborah Craig, Marcy Park Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Leaf Coneybear Josh Gad, William Barfee Lisa Howard, Rona Lisa Peretti Celia Keenan-Bolger, Olive Ostrovsky Jose Llana, Chip Tolentino Greg Stuhr, Douglas Panch Sarah Saltzberg, Logianne Schwartzandgrubenierre

	Credits Book by Rachel Sheinkin Music and Lyrics by William Finn Conceived by Rebecca Feldman Directed by James Lapine Set Design by Beowulf Boritt Costume Design by Jennifer Caprio Lighting Design by Natasha Katz Sound Design by Dan Moses Schreier