“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” opens in the Backdoor Playhouse this Thursday at 8 p.m.
Presented by the Tech Players, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is a one-act musical focusing on a fictional spelling bee set in the geographically ambiguous Putnam Valley Middle School. The musical follows six quirky students as they compete in the bee, which three equally odd teachers run.
Based on the Rachel Sheinkin book, William Finn wrote the music and lyrics for the musical. The play originally debuted on Broadway in 2005 and was nominated for six Tony Awards, winning two.
Mark Creter, Tech theater professor, will direct the Tech production with musical direction by Mendy Richards. As for the cast, members of the student body and faculty will play the characters.
“Theater is open to anyone at Tech who’s interested. For instance, this musical has a cast that’s a combination of students as well as faculty. This gives students a chance to work with seasoned performers, and it also brings a little variety to the show,” said Creter.
The show opens Thursday and continues through Nov. 12. Admission for students is free.
