The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

 

The Arden Theatre, located at 40 N. 2^nd Street, is presenting the uproarious 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee through an extended June 25, 2023. An engaging ensemble cast is joined by 4 members of the audience who participate with the others onstage  in the Spelling Bee. Each member of the cast has his own method to help him cope with the stresses of the competition. They range from writing on the arm, quietly speaking into a hand, beating out the rhythm of the word on a chest, to using a “magic foot” to spell the word on the floor before spelling it aloud. This show is a riot, filled with situational humor. Teenage angst aside, every member of the cast has a story to tell and the stories are  brilliantly told in song. The Comfort Counselor (Henry Gainza) and the moderator Rona Lisa Peretti (Patricia Noonan) have their solo moments in Act 1 while the contestants have their solo moments in Act 2. The music is clever; the voices are superb; and the comedy is  often unexpected. This is a must-see show for the end of the theater season. For more information or tickets, visit www.ardentheatre.org.