Rachel Sheinkin News

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is a hip musical comedy which follows six young people in the throes of puberty, who are overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, as they learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser. The musical, featuring emotionally revealing musical selections filled with side-splitting lyrics written by William Finn, chronicles the overachievers' angst of six precocious adolescents who turn out to be the unlikeliest of heroes: a quirky yet charming cast of outsiders for whom the Bee is the one place where they can stand out and fit in at the same time.

Due to extremely strong ticket sales, Harvey Fierstein's Torch Song has been extended for two additional weeks of performances, announced Second Stage Theater (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director, Casey Reitz, Executive Director). The production will now play through Sunday, December 3.

'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' by William Finn, based on the book by Rachel Sheinkin, and conceived by Rebecca Feldman is directed by Cheryl Blauer this month at Stage Coach Theatre. It is a heartwarming, and sometimes heartwrenching, glimpse in the unexpectedly complicated lives of a group of spelling bee participants. Three adult supervisors and six spellers make up the story with the added fun of four audience members being brought up to fill out the contestant seats (don't worry, only those who offered by signing up are considered).

Second Stage Theater (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director, Casey Reitz, Executive Director) has announced that Emmy Award nominee Brian Tyree Henry will join the cast of Kenneth Lonergan's LOBBY HERO, directed by Trip Cullman.

Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) announces its 27th season, with performances in THE BLACK BOX, FPAC's home and performance venue in downtown Franklin, and two holiday productions staged at Franklin High School. FPAC opens the season with award-winning playwright Yasmina Reza's God of Carnage, presented September 29-October 1. Winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Play, the acclaimed dark comedy takes place in the Cobble Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn, where civility unravels as two sets of parents discuss how to deal with a playground altercation that occurred between the couples' sons the previous day.

 Bristol Riverside Theatre spells F-U-N when it opens its Mainstage season with the multiple Tony Award-winner The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, and conceived by Rebecca Feldman, running September 19-October 15.  Directed by Amy Kaissar, the ensemble cast features Will Carlyon, Andrew Coleman, Leigha Kato, Kathryn McCreary, Joshua Morgan, Robert Smythe, Phebe Taylor, T.J. Wagner, and Brooke Wetterhahn.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd, has announced a one-week extension of Company.

After many summers of blowing the roof off of Mr. Finn's Cabaret, Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd, proudly presents Joe Iconis and Family TAKE OVER! on Sunday, September 3, 2017 at 8pm.

Aaron Tveit (Broadway's Catch Me If You Can, Next to Normal), who returns to BSC after previously playing 'Matt' in the 2007 production of Calvin Berger, will star as 'Bobby' in Company, along with Ellen Harvey (Broadway's Present Laughter) as 'Joanne,'Lawrence Street (Broadway's Urinetown) as 'Harry,' Jeanette Bayardelle (Broadway's The Color Purple) as 'Sarah,' Kate Loprest(Broadway's First Date) as 'Susan,' Paul A. Schaefer(Broadway's The Phantom of the Opera) as 'Peter,' Jane Pfitsch (Broadway'sCabaret) as 'Jenny,' James Ludwig (Broadway's Spamalot) as 'David,' Lauren Marcus (Little Shop of Horrors, Sharon Playhouse) as 'Amy,' Joseph Spieldenner (Broadway's Les Miserables) as 'Paul,' Peter Reardon (BSC's All My Sons) as 'Larry,' Nora Schell(Spamilton, Triad Theater) as 'Marta,' and Rebecca Kuznick (BSC's Fiddler on the Roof) as 'Kathy.' Featuring a book by George Furth, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, with choreography by Jeffrey Page, music supervision by Darren Cohen, music direction by Alex Shields, and direction by JuliAnne Boyd, Company will begin previews on August 10 and is set to open August 13 for a run through September 2.

Second Stage Theater (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director, Casey Reitz, Executive Director) has announced complete casting for its upcoming production of Harvey Fierstein's TORCH SONG, directed by Moises Kaufman.

For its 67th year, The Charles Seller Foundation Talent Time Players presented 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' on Thursday night August 3, 2017.

Barrington Stage Company favorite and Tony Award-Winner Donna McKechnie with a group of established Broadway actors were the cast in BSC's Musical Theatre Lab reading of the original musical BUTTERFLIES.

Second Stage Theater, the preeminent home for American plays and living American playwrights, has announced new Board of Trustees members Elin Nierenberg, Tamara Harris Robinson, Ira Schreck, Brooke Shields, Susan Wasserstein and Kara Young.

Single tickets for Second Stage Theater's production of Harvey Fierstein's TORCH SONG, directed by Moises Kaufman, will go on sale to the general public today, Tuesday, July 25 at 1:00pm at 2ST.com or by calling the Second Stage Box Office at (212) 246-4422.

Lauren Taslitz (book/lyrics) and Danny Ursetti (music) are pleased to announce that their new project REGRETTING ALMOST EVERYTHING (formerly titled Things We Think, But Don't Dare Say) will make its debut with a special two-night run as the final installment of this year's "Artists on the Horizon" emerging musical theater artists series at Mr. Finn's Cabaret at Barrington Stage Company, starring Broadway veterans Anne L. Nathan and Jeff Blumenkrantz.

Second Stage Theater has announced that the world premiere of GREG PIERCE's play, CARDINAL, directed by KATE WHORISKEY, has been added to the 2017-18 season. The production will open in Winter 2018 at the Tony Kiser Theater (305 West 43rd Street).

Second Stage Theater has announced that Obie and Drama Desk Award winner LILA NEUGEBAUER will direct the New York Premiere of TRACY LETTS' acclaimed play, MARY PAGE MARLOWE, in June of 2018 at the Tony Kiser Theatre.

Entre'Acte Theatrix presents The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at The PGA Arts Center. Based upon C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E, an original improvisational play created by Rebecca Feldman, the musical was conceived of by Rebecca Feldman, and features music and lyrics by William Finn, a book by Rachel Sheinkin, and additional material by Jay Reiss

Second Stage Theater has announced that Mercedes Ruehl, winner of the Tony Award, Academy Award, and Golden Globe Award, will star opposite the previously announced Michael Urie in the upcoming production of Harvey Fierstein's modern classic, Torch Song, directed by Moises Kaufman.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd, is pleased to announce it is the recipient of a $70,000 grant from The Shubert Foundation. The Shubert Foundation's 2016 Grants Program awarded a record-breaking total of $26.8 million to 533 not-for-profit performing arts organizations across the United States.