The Missoula Community Theatre Presents THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

Remember when you were in middle school and everything seemed heightened? Winning, losing, fitting in, not fitting in, and utter lack of confidence in your individuality? For audiences watching the six quirky 7th grade contestants in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, that pubescent pandemonium will likely be hilariously familiar! A Tony Award-winning musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will be presented by the Missoula Community Theatre March 7-17 at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts.

At first glance, this production may sound like a children's show, but director Adam B. Ferguson says this "spell-tastic" musical comedy in which "awkward is awesome" is PG-13. There are mature themes and adolescent humor about puberty and body parts. The actors playing the six spelling bee contestants are all adults, which allows for some comfortable distance from the immediacy of puberty. In short, says Ferguson, audiences should be prepared to L-A-U-G-H about real life, silly stuff.

Ferguson is very excited about the "small but mighty" versatile cast of this "truly one-of-a-kind interactive" musical, gleefully bringing to life wacky characters experiencing a challenging event during a challenging time in their lives. The interactive part involves volunteer audience members participating in the on-stage spelling bee. Some performances will even feature a local "celebrity" speller, like Mayor John Engen, meteorologist Mark Heyka, and Kali Lindner, creator of Oula Fitness.

This show is also the Missoula Community Theatre's annual Zero Waste production, in which props, set, and costumes are created from recycled or repurposed materials. Between the specialized construction of the show, and the unique comedy imbedded in the story and music, Ferguson hopes that you'll leave the theatre thinking, "Wow! I had no idea musical theatre could be like that! Awkward is A-W-E-S-O-M-E!"

*The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will take place at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts March 7-17, 2019. Tickets are available at MCTinc.org; by calling 406-728-PLAY(7529); or at the MCT Box Office, which is open Mon.-Fri. between 9AM and 5PM. The production is sponsored by the Silver Slipper and US Bank.

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