Is it Spelled T-H-E-A-T-E-R or T-H-E-A-T-R-E? Introduction to The Spelling Bee
In the New World Stage theater underground in New York City, NY, a professional production of talented actors performing the musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, written by Tony-winning composer, William Finn, is running through February– and it’s a total must-see show.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, nicknamed The Spelling Bee by many theatergoers, is a (fun), unique musical released in 2004. The music and lyrics were written by William Finn, based on the book by Rachel Sheinkin, and assembled by Rebecca Feldman.
The New World Stage revival of The Spelling Bee is one of the first professional Spelling Bee productions in a while, encouraging both theatergoers and interested civilians to take a trip to NYC to see the comedic show.
The musical follows 6 middle-school children, all from varying backgrounds and lifestyles, participating in their local county’s Spelling Bee for the chance to win a grand prize and a trip to the country finals of the Bee in Washington, D.C. In addition to the 6 participating children, the bee is orchestrated by Rona Lisa Peretti, a former winner of the Bee, 3rd Annual, as well as the Vice Principal of Putnam County Middle School, with a Comfort Counselor on site.
One of the most interesting things about The Spelling Bee is its audience participation aspect. Three or four guests from the audience can apply and be chosen to join the Bee, unscripted and at random, and get to engage on stage with the cast while tackling challenging words. The guest spellers selected at The New World Stage range from your average Joe to actors, influencers, and minor celebrities–New World Stage makes an effort to feature a special guest speller whenever possible.
Throughout the musical, the characters’ deep backstory and motivations are revealed through interacting with their peers, crushing (or failing) their words, and getting to learn what it means to be a winner. It tackles themes of belonging, intelligence, friendship, and perfectionism as every ding of the bell crushes another young speller’s heart, while teaching them something meaningful in the process.
The kids are all giving it their best despite their challenges– such as Leaf Coneybear, played in this revival by Justin Cooley, who is a homeschooled, quirky student who gives spelling his best effort but just can’t remain focused. Or the dashing Chip Tolentino (Philppe Arroyo), the previous winner of the 24th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, who is eliminated first this year after a silly distraction causes him to choke on a word he should have known.
What about the perfectionist Marcy Park (Leana Rae Concepcion), who knows she could easily take this Bee with her insane abilities, pleasing her parents and maintaining her streak of being “the best in everything she does”… but does she truly want this win? Is it any more than a chore to her? Something she must achieve, not something she wants? Will another student fall victim to the pressure of the Bee, or will Marcy make her own choices today?
Tackling their mindsets, the delicate rules of the Bee, and the external pressures to be the best, most perfect speller, the students come of age as they make mistakes, touch victory, and learn what it really means to put their all into their goals.
More than just a musical, though, the Spelling Bee is an absolute comedy. Witty word definitions delivered from Douglas Panch (Jason Kravits) keep the audience cackling for more, while swinging songs about the fears and tribulations that come with The Bee keep watchers on the edge of their seats.
The Spelling Bee is approximately an hour and forty-five minutes in length, with no intermission. It combines musical exploration, humorous moments, audience engagement, and character-building monologues to create a musical that is a wonder to experience, whether for the first or fifth time, with uniqueness every time. It began running at the New World Stage Theater in late December and will be running until mid-February, with tickets still on sale.
My Review, Rating, & Spelling Experience 🙂
I went with my parents to see The Spelling Bee on December 18th in New York City. The entrance to the New World Theater Stages makes it appear to be a small box office, but upon walking further down the staircases, it opens up to a large area underground with multiple separate stages, with five or six stages all performing different productions.
Within the same theater, I walked past stages performing musicals such as Heathers, The Play That Goes Wrong, Amaze, Gazillion Bubble Show, and more. The atmosphere underground was sprouting different merchandise stands, bar set-ups, and posters of various productions across the years.
I actually stopped by and grabbed some Spelling Bee merchandise before the show began– a zip-up jacket with yellow detailing along the sleeves reading Putnam County. The merchandise stand also carried t-shirts, mugs, and other accessories for those interested in the Bee.
While waiting for the doors to the theater to open, I heard a worker at the merchandise stand announce the last call for guest applications. I decided it was worth taking my shot and filling out a brief interest sheet to apply for the Bee. While I personally wasn’t accepted, it’s cool that people have the chance to get up on the stage and be a member of the production!
Finally, my parents and I made our way to Stage #3, taking our seats and grabbing a playbill. There was no flash photography allowed during the show, but prior to the show was fair game… so I was able to snag pictures of the gorgeous set. Designed to look like a gymnasium set up for a middle-school bee, the New World Stage perfectly crafted the set with so many details to be noticed.
At 2 PM, the show began, and I’m not sure if there was a moment I stopped laughing throughout the entire production– until I almost started crying at “The I Love You Song” towards the end of the production. Each and every talented actor on that stage made The Spelling Bee experience entirely immersive and memorable.
Tickets to the Bee were my early Christmas gift this year, after telling my parents in July that I heard rumors it would be making a revival. It’s a musical I’ve been passionate about for over a year now, and getting to see it live was honestly insane for me. Experiencing this magic for myself brought such a smile to my face.
As I must have gleefully stated ten times by now, I definitely recommend The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee to anyone who seeks a great, heartwarming laugh with an awesome theatrical experience. It is a PG-13 production with incredibly pleasing ratings across theater rating forums and discussions.
Aside from the NYC New World Stage production, be on the lookout for any local theater revivals near you, listen to the official soundtrack on streaming platforms, and do your best to support the growth of the performing arts, no matter the scale and reach of the theater or production. As an actor myself, most people have no idea the difference that support, funding, love, and spreading the news can bring for a production.
And remember: Everyone’s a winner in spirit at the Spelling Bee, and in real life, too, as long as we all give it our best efforts.
