The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee The Musical

Music by William Finn
Book by Rachel Sheinkin

Recommended Resources

Plot Summary & Audition Notes

List of Characters in Putnam County Spelling Bee

 

25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee 2005 Original Broadway Cast Recording

25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Sheet Music (Vocal Selections

Plot Summary:

This audience-participation show is most simply, a spelling bee. All the "kids" are played by adults. This show is very comedic, and with audience members onstage, improvisation is a necessary task for Panch and Peretti, but useful to all cast members.

Audition Preparation Suggestions for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

The music has pop influences, and the female characters should have a strong belt/mix voice. Minimal dance.

The Kids:
Marcy Park (Mezzo)

speaks 6 languages, good at everything. Acrobatic Dance in "I Speak Six Languages"

Leaf Coneybear (Tenor)

2nd runner up in the school bee, he shouldn't even be here. He thinks he's "not that smart." Comedic Role.

William Barfee (Baritone)

spells with his foot, chronically congested.

Olive Ostrovsky (Soprano)

feels abandoned by her parents, her best friend is her dictionary.

Chip Tolentino (Tenor)

last year's champ. Arrogant until an unfortunate mishap results in his early elimination.

Logainne Schwartzandgrubennierre (Mezzo)

has a lisp. Youngest competitor, with 2 stage fathers who force her to be a perfectionist.

The Adults:
Mitch Mahoney (Baritone-Tenor)

ex-con serving community service hours as a "comfort counselor" for the kids who are eliminated.

Rona Lisa Peretti (Soprano)

one time winner of the bee, now officiating it. Comedic improvisation.

Douglas Panch (non-singing)

Vice Principal. Infatuated with Rona. Comedic improvisation.

Related Websites

Other Musicals/Films By This Composer

List of Songs in Putnam County Spelling Bee

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - Original Cast Recording - Download the Album Now!

• The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - Full Cast
• The Spelling Rules/My Favorite Moment Of The Bee 1 - Cast / Rona
• My Friend, The Dictionary - Olive
• The First Goodbye - Kids
• Pandemonium - Kids
• I'm Not That Smart - Leaf
• The Second Goodbye - Kids
• Magic Foot - Barfee
• Pandemonium Reprise/My Favorite Moment Of The Bee 2 - Kids / Rona
• Why We Like Spelling - Kids
• Prayer Of The Comfort Counselor - Mitch
• My Unfortunate Erection (Chip's Lament) - Chip
• Woe Is Me - Logainne
• I'm Not That Smart (Reprise 2) - Leaf
• I Speak Six Languages - Marcy
• The I Love You Song - Olive, Rona, Mitch
• Woe Is Me (Reprise) - Logainne
• My Favorite Moment Of The Bee 3/Second - Rona, Olive, Barfee
• Finale - Full Cast
• The Last Goodbye - Full Cast