The Salisbury High School Theatre Department will help the audience relive middle school years in the spring musical, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” with performances 7 p.m. March 3 through 5 and 3 p.m. March 6.

For many, middle school is a time when spelling competitions are held and this play follows the lives of six spellers - Olive Ostrovsky, William Barfée, Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, Marcy Park, Leaf Coneybear and Chip Tolentino who compete at the annual spelling bee at Putnam Valley Middle School in Putnam County, N.Y.

Vice Principal Douglas Panch and Rona Lisa Perretti oversee the spelling bee at the middle school competition, offering participants spelling words such as “lugubrious,” “chimerical,” “phylactery” and “Weltanschauung.”

Returning as director is Will Windsor Erwin, who said, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a show “about young crushes, facing challenges and the pressure to be the best. It’s about the fear of failure and the ability to overcome obstacles.”

The play, with music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin and conceived by Rebecca Felman, had its Broadway debut May 2, 2005. It was originally directed on Broadway by James Lapine.

Members of the SHS cast include Carolyn Boulay, Joey Robert, Jessette Long, David Eckhart, Dane Galbraith, Scheccid Alayola, Abigail Garrigan, Eric Pennella, Aliyah Kimmey, Reilly Yankovich, Jack Kubinec, Leandra Roelker, Haley Bergstrom, Angela Harrison, Sara Lamana, Sean Maehrer, Samantha Perkins and Margaux Petruska.

Returning for her third year musically directing and conducting at Salisbury is Nina Elias, commending this cast for “their willingness to tackle some very adult problems under the guise of a youth spelling bee.”

Technical Director CJ Matz has been involved with Salisbury productions for four years and has announced this will be his last year.

“I have been very fortunate to work with such an amazing community here within the Salisbury School District,” Matz said.

Lighting Director Chris West also returns to Salisbury for this production.

Choreographer for the show is senior Abigail Garrigan. Senior Aine Shay returns as stage manager keeping everything running smoothly. Senior Olivia King is set designer.

Members of the crew include Brogan Shay, Padraig Shay, Rebecca Aungst, Abby Leonardo and Hanna Martin.

Some of this year’s seniors talked with The Press about “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” their last production at SHS.

“It is funny, it’s quirky, it will make you laugh and cry, but most of all, you’ll fall in love with every single character,” Garrigan said.

Seniors said they have mixed emotions about this being their last production at the school.

“I feel sad because this is our last show and we’ve been together so long,” Boulay said. “We’ve formed such close bonds with each other it’s like leaving behind a family.”

The students said it was easy to get into character for the show.

“We get to tap into how we felt in middle school and what our personalities were,” Perkins said. “We also get to mock how awkward middle schoolers are.”

Bergstrom said, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is different than any other production offered at the school.

“The show is the most interactive the school has done. The audience doesn’t just watch how much fun the kids on stage are having, they can sign up to participate in the fun,” Bergstrom said.

So who wins the spelling bee?

None of the cast members would tell. The only clue was offered by Galbraith.

“The best speller doesn’t necessarily win.”

The production is rated PG-13 by Music Theatre International.

To reserve or purchase tickets, call 610-797-4107, ext. 2508 or email salisburytheatre@ salisburysd.org.