Morris Museum to Present THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

This summer, join us at the Morris Museum's Bickford Theatre for a production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, produced by Theatre Next Door. Starring high school and college age students, this hilarious musical comedy will play from August 11 through August 13, 2016.

Featuring music and lyrics by William Finn and a Tony Award winning book by Rachel Sheinkin, Spelling Bee has charmed audiences across the country with its effortless wit and humor. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home life, the eclectic characters spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words on a riotous ride complete with audience participation, all the while learning that winning isn't everything.

"We're thrilled to be back at the Bickford Theatre at Morris Museum for another exhilarating summer production," said Angelo DeFazio, Bee director and co-founder of Theatre Next Door. "Spelling Bee is unlike any musical because it has a lot of improvisation and audience participation, making each performance a truly fun and unique experience."

Performances will run Thursday, August 11, 2016, 8:00PM, Friday, August 12, 2016, 8:00PM and Saturday, August 13, 2016, 2:00PM and 8:00PM. Tickets: $25 General Public; $20 Seniors/Museum/Theatre Guild Members; $20 Students (18 and under or with a valid college ID).

Tickets may be purchased online at morrismuseum.org by phone at (973) 971-3706, or in person at the Bickford Theatre Box Office. The Bickford Theatre is an integral part of the Morris Museum, located at 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown, NJ, and offers free parking and full accessibility. Box Office hours for phone sales are Monday through Friday,10:00am to 5:00pm. Walk-up hours are Tuesday through Friday, 11:00am to 5:00pm.

Cast Members: Xavier Cruz (Florham Park), Leandra Del Pozo (Bridgewater), Rachel Favetta (West Orange), Thomas Fetner (South Orange), Julie Funesti (Florham Park) , Anna Hanson (Glen Ridge), Ryan Healy (Livingston), Tommy Hilden (Florham Park), Nicole Lippey (West Orange), Mikey Miller (Florham Park), Chase Moriarty (Glen Ridge), Meghan Muth (Florham Park), Briana and Carlyn Serpone (Roseland), Brooke Shanley (Florham Park) and April Sigler (Stanhope).

Creative Team: Production team includes director and TND co-founder Angelo De Fazio, musical director Courtney Serpone, choreographer and TND co-founder Melissa Mooney, producer Jenna Rocca, stage manager Anthony Foti, and costume designer Christina Alamo.

Theatre Next Door & Dancelife Academy (TND) strives to foster a spirit of creativity in the life of each member. TND offers a selection of dance and theatre classes and takes pride in the encouragement of the "triple threat" of acting, dancing, and singing under the Artistic Direction of Angelo De Fazio and Melissa Mooney, and Managing Director JoAnn Russoniello. For more information, visit www.theatrenextdoor.com.

The Bickford Theatre is a professional theater that produces and presents year-round entertainment, including a Main Stage Series, two Children's Theatre series, a Jazz Showcase, and other concert series at the Bickford. The theatre is a Senior Member of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, a not-for-profit organization of 30 professional theaters throughout the state, and works in conjunction with Actors' Equity Association (AEA) and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC). From its beginnings in 1994 to the present, tens of thousands of theater-goers from across the tri-state area have enjoyed the Bickford Theatre's many entertaining and diversified offerings in theatre, music and dance.

Founded in 1913, the Morris Museum is an award-winning, community-based arts and cultural institution which serves the public through high caliber exhibitions in the arts, sciences and humanities. The Museum also offers educational programs, family events, and is home to the Bickford Theatre and its wide range of performing arts offerings. Continuously serving the public since 1913, the Morris Museum has been designated a Major Arts Institution and has received the New Jersey State Council on the Arts' Citation of Excellence, among other awards. The first museum in New Jersey to be accredited, the Morris Museum was re-accredited in 2013 by the American Alliance of Museums.

The Morris Museum is a Blue Star Museum, offering free admission to active duty military personnel and their families, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

The Museum is located at 6 Normandy Heights Road (at the corner of Columbia Turnpike) in Morristown, NJ, and is openTuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday, 12:00 to 5:00pm. In addition, the Museum is open evenings from 5:00 to 8:00pm on the second and third Thursday of the month. Admission to the Museum is $10 for adults and $7 for children, students and senior citizens. Admission is always free for Museum members. For more information, call (973) 971-3700, or visit www.morrismuseum.org.