Boston Gets an 'Adult-Only' Spelling Bee, December 1

On Friday, December 1 at 8 pm at The Wilbur Theatre, there will be a special for-mature-audiences-only performance of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the Tony Award-winning musical with music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, conceived by Rebecca Feldman and directed by James Lapine.  "On this night, the kids should be left home with the sitter, because no one under the age 17 will be admitted."

Jay Reiss, who originated the role of Vice Principal Douglas Panch on Broadway and writes some of the definitions and unhelpful sentences used in the show, explains the genesis of this special performance: "During rehearsals, I would occasionally cross the line a bit with the definitions and sentences and use some material that was pretty filthy. The cast would crack up, and director James Lapine would say, 'That is so wrong.' The New York and San Francisco productions of Spelling Bee have each performed the mature audiences show to audience raves.  On Friday December 1, Boston audiences will hear some of that material, which is sure to leave them suitably outraged but laughing."

"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a hilarious tale that chronicles the experience of six youngsters vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. The show's creative team has created the unlikeliest of hit musicals about the unlikeliest of heroes: a quirky yet charming cast of characters for whom a spelling bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time," state press notes.

Spelling Bee officially opened at The Wilbur Theatre on October 4 and "has been capturing the hearts and funny bones of theatergoers and critics ever since."

 The critically-acclaimed Boston cast features Aaron J. Albano as Chip Tolentino, Stanley Bahorek as Leaf Coneybear, Jenni Barber as Olive Ostrovsky, Jared Gertner as William Barfee,  Sara Inbar as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, James Monroe Iglehart as Mitch Mahoney, Greta Lee as Marcy Park, Daniel Pearce as Douglas Panch and Betsy Wolfe as Rona Lisa Peretti.

The musical continues at The Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont Street, in Boston's Theatre District through December 31 2006. Performances are Tuesdays through Thursdays at 7:30pm, Friday at 8pm, Saturdays at 2pm and 8pm, and Sundays at 1pm and 5:30 pm.  Tickets are $25 - $75.  Tickets are available through Ticketmaster at 617-931-2787 and www.Ticketmaster.com. For more information visit www.spellingbeethemusical.com/boston.