The Tony and Drama Desk award-winning musical focuses on an eclectic group of mid-pubescents—joined by willing audience members—who vie for the spelling championship.
The Saint Sebastian Players continues its 40th anniversary season with the musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with book by Rachel Sheinkin and music and lyrics by William Finn, conceived by Rebecca Feldman. Performances take place March 11-April 3, 2022 in the lower level of St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey, Chicago (enter on Marshfield).
The Tony and Drama Desk award-winning musical focuses on an eclectic group of mid-pubescents-joined by willing audience members-who vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming "ding" of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. SSP company member Robert-Eric West serves as director/choreographer and co-producer; his previous SSP directing credits include The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Oliver!and Love, Loss and What I Wore. SSP company members in the cast include Sean Michael Barrett and Adam Hoak. Other cast members include Lili Galluzzo, Peter Kattner III, Drew MacCallum, Sam Peterson, Kay Rower, Kaela West and Alice Woo. The production team includes SSP company members Emil Zbella as set designer, John Oster as technical director, Rob Gretta as properties manager, Melinda "MJ" Deamon as audience participation coordinator and John Austin as co-producer. Also on the team are Sandra Leander as costumes/properties consultant, Sean Smyth as sound designer, Brendan Siddall as stage manager, Claire Stevens as assistant stage manager and Andrew Milliken as rehearsal accompanist.Videos