Tacoma Musical Playhouse to Present THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, 1/16-2/8

Tacoma Musical Playhouse announces its third musical of the season and first musical of the new year - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The show will run January 16 - February 8, 2015, playing Fridays & Saturdays, 8PM and Sundays, 2PM, with Saturday Matinees, January 31 & February 7, 2015, 2PM.

Get your dictionaries out for this six time Tony Award winning Broadway musical and Drama Desk Awards for Best Book. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee has charmed audiences across the country with its effortless wit and humor. Featuring a fast-paced wildly funny and touching book by Rachel Sheinkin and truly a fresh and vibrant score by William Finn. This bee is one unforgettable experience.

About the Show Six awkward spelling champions learn that winning (and losing) isn't everything. An eclectic group of six mid-pubescent's vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home life, the tweens spell their way through a series (potentially made-up) words hoping to never hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming "ding' the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter, one speller leaves! The losers each getting a juice box.

About the Cast JAKE ATWOOD plays Leaf Coneybear who is home-schooled with his many siblings; everything about this public spelling bee is an adventure for him. Jakes most recent TMP credit is Shrek The Musical (Pinocchio).

BEN FISHER plays William Barfee who with his "magic spelling foot," hopes to vindicate himself after his early elimination the previous year. Fisher has performed on TMP's stage in Shrek The Musical.

KAWIKA HUSTON plays Chip Tolentino, a Boy Scout and champion of the Twenty-Fourth Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee hoping to defend his title. Returning to the TMP stage he was last seen in TMP's Musical of Musicals.

JENNA MCRILL plays the lisping Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere and was last seen in Shrek The Musical at TMP.

JOHN MILLER as frustrated Vice Principal Douglas Panch returns to TMP after previously appearing in La Cage Aux Folles (Francis).

LEISHEN MOORE returns to TMP as the long-time spelling bee hostess and former champion Rona Lisa Perretti. Moore has appeared in TMP's last season's Annie (Grace Farrell).

JIMMY SHIELDS plays Mitch Mahoney, the "Official Comfort Counselor," and returns to TMP after appearing in Shrek The Musical and A Little Princess.

ELISE TORRALBO playing Olive Ostrovsky, the quiet only child with the absent father, makes her return to TMP. Elise was last seen in Shout! The Mod Musical (Blue Girl) at TMP exactly a year ago!

APRIL VILLANUEVA SANTO DOMINO plays the ultimate overachiever Marcy Park. April returns to TMP after last appearing as Eponine in Les Miserables.

The creative team for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is Jon Douglas Rake (Managing Artistic Director and Choreographer), Jeff Strvtecky (Musical Director), Bruce Haasl (Technical Director/Set Designer) and John Chenault (Lighting Director).

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee plays at Tacoma Musical Playhouse, located at 7116 Sixth Avenue, Tacoma, WA. Ticket Prices: Adults $29; Senior/Student/Military $27; Children (12 and under) $20; Groups of 10 or more $25. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased at TMP's Box Office located at 7116 Sixth Avenue, by phone at 253-565-6867, and online at www.tmp.org. For preferred seating and special groups of 10 or more, contact 253-565-6867. Box office is open Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM.

Season Flex Passes are still available. The Flex Pass Subscription is a package of tickets good for the remaining shows in our 2014-2015 Mainstage season giving you the flexibility of seeing the shows you want when you want. Call our Box Office (253-565-6867) for more information.

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