Chicago Holds Adult 'Spelling Bee,' January 12

On Friday, January 12, 2007, there will be a special "for-mature-audiences-only" performance of Chicago's The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the Tony Award-winning and critically acclaimed new musical comedy in an open-run.  It will be parent/teacher night for this one performance only at the Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place – the kids should definitely stay at home and do their homework.

Both the Broadway and San Francisco companies of Spelling Bee have presented special "mature audiences only" performances.  Jay Reiss, the original Vice Principal Douglas Panch in New York who also wrote many of the word definitions and hilariously unhelpful sentences used throughout the show, explains:  "During our rehearsals, we would occasionally cross the line a bit and use some material that was pretty filthy.  The cast would crack up, and director James Lapine would say, 'That is so wrong.'" On Friday, January 12, our audience in the Windy City will experience this forbidden material (with some added spice courtesy of Chicago's Bee staff) for the first time.

The dedicated Chicago production of Spelling Bee is produced by David Stone, who also brought Wicked to Chicago, and directed by James Lapine, the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winner who also directed the Broadway production.  The musical, conceived by Rebecca Feldman, features music and lyrics by Tony Award-winner William Finn (Falsettos, Elegies) and a Tony Award-winning book by Rachel Sheinkin with additional material by Jay Reiss.

"In the hilariously hip musical comedy, six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser," as press notes describe the show.

The special "mature audiences only'" performance will be presented for one night only on Friday, January 12, 2007.  Tickets are on-sale now at all regular prices and points of sale.

Spelling Bee performs in an open-ended engagement at Chicago's Drury Lane Theatre, located at 175 East Chestnut Street.  The performance schedule is as follows:  Wednesdays at 2 & 7:30 p.m.; Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 & 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 2 & 6:30 p.m. 

Tickets range in price from $25 - $69.50 and are available at the Drury Lane Box Office (175 East Chestnut Street) as well as all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St. and 18 W. Monroe St.), through the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (312) 902-1400, at all Ticketmaster ticket centers (including all Carson Pirie Scott stores, Tower Records, Hot Tix, select Coconuts and fye stores) or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Discounted parking for Spelling Bee theatre-goers is available at garages conveniently located near the theatre, for as low as $7.50 (rates based on availability, time and garage location).  For complete information visit: Chicago">www.SpellingBeeTheMusical.com/Chicago.

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