The first block of tickets for performances April 18-Sept. 2 at the Illinois stage are now on sale at the Drury Lane Box Office, 175 East Chestnut Street, at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St. and 151 W. Randolph St.) or by phone at (312) 902-1400 as well as online at ticketmaster.com.
"On behalf of the entire Drury Lane team we are all pleased Spelling Bee can continue its successful long-running engagement in Chicago," said producer Jim Jensen in a statement.
The popular "themed performances" will also continue through the summer on a regularly scheduled basis. Pre-show "game night" competitions, which have audience members battle against one another in board games (including the first-of-its-kind and one-and-only Hungry, Hungry Hippos Spelling Bee Championship!), will be offered before each Wednesday evening performance. And, the "parent/teacher" adult-themed performances continue as the Bee goes "blue" on the first Friday of each month starting June 1.
The Chicago run of the new musical followed a San Francisco run last year and preceded the current national tour. The original Broadway cast will reunite for the upcoming Los Angeles stint at the Wadswworth Theatre (May 24-June 17).
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. 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 Broadway in Chicago run at Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place, 175 East Chestnut Street, are available by calling (312) 902-1400 or online at www.broadwayinchicago.com.
For more information on the musical, visit www.spellingbeethemusical.com.
