Photo Flash: Ford's THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

Ford's Theatre Society 2013-2014 season continues with the quirky Tony-winning musical comedy "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," directed by Peter Flynn through May 17, 2014, at Ford's Theatre (511 Tenth Street NW, Washington, D.C.). The production features a local Washington cast of Helen Hayes Award nominees as six awkward adolescents and their proctors, all working through a daunting and hilarious championship quest. Check out a first look below!

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.

The cast of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" includes Carolyn Agan (Olive Ostrovsky), Matthew A. Anderson (Vice Principal Douglas Panch), Felicia Curry (Marcy Park), Kristen Garaffo (Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere), Vincent Kempski (Chip Tolentino), Kevin McAllister (Mitch Mahoney), Vishal Vaidya (William Barfee), Nickolas Vaughan (Leaf Coneybear) and Rachel Zampelli (Rona Lisa Perretti), with Maggie Donnelly and Clark Young.

There will be audio-described performances of Spelling Bee on Tuesday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 3, at 2 p.m. A sign-interpreted performance is Thursday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. A captioned performance is Saturday, May 10, at 2 p.m.

Photos by Scott Suchman