'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' Comes to SUNY Plattsburgh

SUNY Plattsburgh’s music and theater departments will present “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” Nov.7-10, in the Hartman Theatre, Myers Fine Arts Building.

The play, which won a number of Tony Awards including best book (musical), best musical and best score during its 2005 Broadway run, focuses on some unlikely heroes: a quirky cast of six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves. They compete to win the spelling championship of a lifetime and together learn that winning isn’t everything and that losing doesn’t necessarily make you a loser.

The New York Times has called the show "irresistible, riotously funny and remarkably ingenious …"

Some audience members will be invited to take the stage for the spell-off.

“With different audience ‘volunteers’ each night, it will never be the same show twice,” said Dr. Shawna Mefferd Carroll, who directs the play, along with musical director Dr. Karen Becker.

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” was conceived by Rebecca Feldman with music and lyrics by William Finn and the book by Rachel Sheinkin. This production is being made through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International.

Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 7-9, and at 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 10.

Ticket range from $5 to $15, with a choice of general seating or reserved seating. They may be purchased beginning on Oct. 17. Call 518-564-2283 for Hartman Theatre box office hours.

The script includes adult language and mature subject matter best suited to audiences PG-13.