Previews begin March 28 for the Illinois run, which will follow a San Francisco run (starting Feb. 14) and precedes and a national tour to start in the fall.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee pits 10 contestants (six actors, four audience members) against each other in a battle for the championship of the local spelling competition.

The cast of loveable misfit contestants and Bee staff will be played by Chicago-area veterans Bill Larkin as Douglas Panch, Cristen Paige as Olive Ostrovsky, Eric Roediger as William Barfee, Jen Sese as Marcy Park, Lucia Spina as Rona Lisa Peretti, Derrick Trumbly as Leaf Coneybear, Brad Weinstock as Chip Tolentino and Christine Werny as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre. The role of Mitch Mahoney is not yet cast.

The ensemble will also include Christine Bunuan, Robin Alexis Childress, Julius Thomas III and George Andrew Wolff.

Producer David Stone (Wicked) presents the spellbinding new musical directed by James Lapine (Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods) and created by composer-lyricist William Finn, librettist Rachel Sheinkin and conceiver Rebecca Feldman. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee earned six Tony Award nominations including Best Score, Best Book, Best Direction, Best Featured Actor (Dan Fogler) and Featured Actress (Celia Keenan-Bolger) as well as for the top prize of Best Musical. Fogler and book writer Sheinkin took home awards for their work.

The musical recouped its initial investment of $3.5 million 18 weeks after opening on Broadway.

Tickets to the San Francisco run at The Post Street Theatre, 450 Post Street (between Powell and Mason St.), are available by calling (415) 771-6900 or through www.poststreettheatre.com.

The Broadway in Chicago run at Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place, 175 East Chestnut Street are currently available for groups of 20 or more by calling (312) 977 1710 or online at www.broadwayinchicago.com.

For more information on the musical, visit www.spellingbeethemusical.com.