In Spelling Bee, six pubescent students navigate their county’s spelling tournament with anxiety, angst and determination. As the competitors progress with the help of definitions, mnemonic devises and toe-tapping tricks, they discover a new sense of belonging and learn that there is more to life than winning a trophy. This charming coming-of-age tale also invites four volunteers from the audience to participate in each performance, ensuring new and unexpected comedy every night.
Recommended for ages 12 and up. Adult humor and some coarse language.
With cheers, tears, and special surprises (we're looking at you Celia Keenan-Bolger!), nine original cast members of the hit Broadway musical, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE - Derrick Baskin, Deborah S. Craig, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Dan Fogler, Lisa Howard, Jose Llana, Jay Reiss, and Sarah Saltzberg (plus Jenni Barber) - reunited for a special one-night-only 10 Year Anniversary benefit concert last night, July 6.
Check out our special photos below from the concert's glamorous and emotional after party. You've got a front row seat!
The nine original cast members of the hit Broadway musical, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE - Derrick Baskin, Deborah S. Craig, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Dan Fogler, Lisa Howard, Jose Llana, Jay Reiss, and Sarah Saltzberg - will reunite for a special one-night-only 10 Year Anniversary benefit concert tonight, July 6 at 7:30pm at Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street).
BroadwayWorld has decided to take you back to the bee to look back at the extremely talented original cast as we prepare for the one-night only reunion!
The SPELLING BEE cast is back together at last!
The nine original cast members of the hit Broadway musical, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE - Jenni Barber, Derrick Baskin, Deborah S. Craig, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Dan Fogler, Lisa Howard, Jose Llana, Jay Reiss, and Sarah Saltzberg - will reunite for a special one-night-only 10 Year Anniversary benefit concert on Monday, July 6 at 7:30pm at Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street). BroadwayWorld caught up with the company in rehearsal - see what they had to say about the nostalgia, the concert and more!
The nine original cast members of the hit Broadway musical, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE - Derrick Baskin, Deborah S. Craig, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Dan Fogler, Lisa Howard, Jose Llana, Jay Reiss, and Sarah Saltzberg - will reunite for a special one-night-only 10 Year Anniversary benefit concert on Monday, July 6 at 7:30pm at Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street). BroadwayWorld has just learned that Celia Keenan-Bolger, who was originally slated to participate, will no longer take part in the event. A show rep told us: "Due to the demands of being mom to a newborn, Celia Keenan-Bolger has had to withdraw from the upcoming Spelling Bee reunion concert. The role of Olive Ostrovsky will be played by Jenni Barber, who took over the role on Broadway."
With so many new productions bowing this week (hence, the Friday 5 on Thursday), the spotlight shines first on Austin Olive and Amie Lara from the cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, directed by the talented Joshua Waldrep, and opening tonight at Pearl Cohn Comprehensive High School. It's the last production of the 2014-15 - that's the 65th year - season of Circle Players, the oldest community theatre troupe in Middle Tennessee.
Bucks County Playhouse (BCP) announces Bucks County's own John Augustine to return (The Hummingbird's Tour, 2014, Director) to the Bucks County Playhouse stage as 'Larry' in Stephen Sondheim's COMPANY, running May 29-June 21. Augustine will play alongside Broadway's Candy Buckley (Scandalous, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Cabaret) as 'Joanne'.
The nine original cast members of the hit Broadway musical, THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE - Derrick Baskin, Deborah S. Craig, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Dan Fogler, Lisa Howard, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Jose Llana, Jay Reiss, and Sarah Saltzberg - will reunite for a special one-night-only 10 Year Anniversary benefit concert on Monday, July 6 at 7:30pm at Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street). Benefit tickets, priced $50, $100, $150, $250, and $500 are available at Ticketmaster.com.
Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Awards season continues at Sardi's, THE SOUND AND THE FURY & THE OTHER THING open off-Broadway, EVER AFTER starts up at Paper Mill and more!
"Sent By Hand" a new original short film, written and produced by Stanley Bahorek (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Amazing Grace,"Boardwalk Empire") in association with EUMEUS NYC
Lincoln Center Theater presents Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I, led by Kelli O'Hara (as Anna Leonowens) and Ken Watanabe (as the King of Siam), directed by Bartlett Sher. The production opens tonight, April 16, 2015 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street). Scroll down to learn more about the company, plus watch highlights from the show!
Tony and Emmy Award winner Tyne Daly, Tony Award winner Harriet Harris, Sierra Boggess and Lisa Howard head an outstanding cast in It Shoulda Been You, the hilarious and heartwarming new musical comedy that proves when it comes to wedding day insanity, everything is relative. It Shoulda Been You, which had a sold-out premiere at New Jersey's George Street Playhouse, officially opens tonight, April 14, 2015 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Scroll down to learn more about the cast, plus watch interviews with the company!
Robert Gould reports for BWW on the final of the 2015 Welsh Musical Theatre Young Singer Of The Year at the Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea.
One of the country's most prestigious cultural honors, The Helen Hayes Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in professional theatre throughout the Washington metropolitan area. theatreWashington will host The 2015 Helen Hayes Awards ceremony tonight, April 6, 2015 at the historic Lincoln Theatre.
The Old Globe is delighted to welcome one of the true geniuses of the American theatre, Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman, who makes her long-awaited San Diego directing debut with an enchanting theatrical spectacle with live music and sumptuous visuals, The White Snake, continuing the Globe's 80th Anniversary festivities as part of the Balboa Park Centennial Celebration. The Southern California Premiere of The White Snake, written and directed by Zimmerman, will run now through April 26 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Opening night is tonight, March 26 at 8:00 p.m.
The Old Globe is delighted to welcome one of the true geniuses of the American theatre, Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman, who makes her long-awaited San Diego directing debut with an enchanting theatrical spectacle with live music and sumptuous visuals, The White Snake, continuing the Globe's 80th Anniversary festivities as part of the Balboa Park Centennial Celebration. The Southern California Premiere of The White Snake, written and directed by Zimmerman, will run tonight, March 21 through April 26 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.
The Public Theater announced additional casting today for the 2015 Free Shakespeare in the Park season, beginning Wednesday, May 27 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. This summer will feature Shakespeare's late romances with THE TEMPEST, directed by Tony Award nominee Michael Greif, and CYMBELINE, directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan. Jesse Tyler Ferguson will return to the Park this summer as Trinculo in THE TEMPEST, along with Hamish Linklater and Lily Rabe teaming up again with Daniel Sullivan on CYMBELINE to play Posthumus Leonatus/Cloten and Imogen, respectively.
Arkansas Repertory Theatre, the state's largest nonprofit professional theatre, is proud to announce its 40th Season. Beginning in September, the new season will include Tony Award-winning artistic experiences and family favorites that exemplify The Rep's mission of producing diverse work of the highest artistic standards for its Arkansas audience.
The Ford's Theatre Society 2014-2015 season continues with the musical Freedom's Song: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, directed by Jeff Calhoun, March 13 through May 20, 2015, at the historic Ford's Theatre (511 Tenth Street NW, Washington, D.C.). A new adaptation of the Broadway musical The Civil War, Freedom's Song features the words of Abraham Lincoln and music inspired by the letters of those who lived through the Civil War. The production is part of Ford's 150: Remembering the Lincoln Assassination, a series of events marking the 150 years since Abraham Lincoln's assassination at Ford's Theatre.
The Old Globe is delighted to welcome one of the true geniuses of the American theatre, Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman, who makes her long-awaited San Diego directing debut with an enchanting theatrical spectacle with live music and sumptuous visuals, The White Snake, continuing the Globe's 80th Anniversary festivities as part of the Balboa Park Centennial Celebration. The Southern California Premiere of The White Snake, written and directed by Zimmerman, will run March 21 through April 26 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run March 21 through 25. Opening night is Thursday, March 26 at 8:00 p.m.
By audience demand, Cleveland Play House has added an extra performance of The Philadelphia Story. This special Sunday matinee performance will take place on March 1 at 3pm.
Clocktower Players TEEN Troupe continues THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE tonight, February 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Multi-award winning Foothill Music Theatre presents SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. Inspired by the iconic pointillist painting 'A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte' by Georges Seurat, this funny, heartfelt musical delves into the inner-lives of both the artist and his subjects.
2004 | Regional (US) |
Workshop Regional (US) |
2004 |
World Premiere |
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2005 | Off-Broadway |
Original Off-Broadway Production Off-Broadway |
2005 | Broadway |
Broadway Transfer Broadway |
2006 |
San Francisco Production |
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2006 | US Tour |
First National Tour US Tour |
2006 | Boston |
Boston Production Boston |
2011 | West End |
Donmar Warehouse Production West End |
2014 | Washington, DC (Regional) |
Ford's Theatre Society Production Washington, DC (Regional) |
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