Published March 15. 2025 04:47AM
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” brings the competition at the geographically-ambiguous Putnam Valley Middle School to the stage, 7 p.m. March 21, 22; 2 p.m. March 23, Black Box Theater, Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, 321 E. Third St., Bethlehem.
Director Diane Wagner is assisted by Choreographer Anelise Rodriguez, Music Director Erica Dickson, Orchestra Conductor Thomas Maher, Technical Director Ellen Schmoyer, Scenic and Lighting Designer Ellen Schmoyer, Costume Designer Amy Handkammer, Sound Designer Carlo Acerra, Stage Manager Destiny Williams and Assistant Music Director Malana Wilson.
The ensemble-driven musical comedy explores the anxiety and glory of six quirky adolescents as they compete in a spelling bee run by equally eccentric adults.
With music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, and additional material by Jay Reiss, the production is based on “C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E,” an improvisational play by Rebecca Feldman.
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” premiered on Broadway in 2005 and won two Tony Awards out of six nominations. It was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2006.
Musical numbers include “My Friend the Dictionary,” “I’m Not that Smart,” “Magic Foot,” “Woe is Me” and “I Speak Six Languages.”
Tickets: www.charterarts.org
PRESS PHOTO BY ED COURRIERFrom left, front: Simon Garfias (William Barfee), Rosie Grellet (Olive Ostrovsky) and back: Isavel Mendoza (Leaf Coneybear), Andi Schubert (Chip Tolentino), Fiona Clifford-Fotopoulos (Logainne SchwartzandGrubenierre), Jadaline Fontanez (Marcy Park), “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts, Bethlehem.