Photo FeaturesLook Back at The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on BroadwayThe musical comedyopened at the Circle in the Square Theatre May 2, 2005.
By
Marc J. Franklin
May 02, 2021
Cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeJoan Marcus
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee opened at the Circle in the Square Theatre May 2, 2005. The production, conceived by Rebecca Feldman with additional material by Jay Reiss and a score by William Finn, played 21 previews and 1,136 previews before closing January 20, 2008. The musical comedy earned six Tony Award nominations, winning two including Best Book of a Musical in Rachel Sheinkin.
Based on The Farm’s original play C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E, Spelling Bee tells the tale of several socially awkward youngsters finding joy, heartache, and a purpose in competing at the regional spelling bee.
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Look Back at The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on Broadway
Look Back at The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee on Broadway
17 PHOTOS
Jay Reiss, Lisa Howard, and the cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Joan Marcus
Cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Joan Marcus
Deborah S. Craig in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Joan Marcus
Sarah Saltzberg in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Joan Marcus
Cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Joan Marcus
Celia Keenan-Bolger in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Joan Marcus
Derrick Baskin in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Lisa Howard in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Joan Marcus
Jose Llana in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Joan Marcus
Dan Fogler (right) in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Joan Marcus
Jay Reiss in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Celia Keenan-Bolger and Dan Folger in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Dan Fogler in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Derrick Baskin, Celia Keenan-Bolger, and Lisa Howard in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Joan Marcus
Jesse Tyler Ferguson in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Jose Llana and cast The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Joan Marcus
Cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
The original Broadway cast starred Derrick Baskin as Mitch Mahoney, Deborah S. Craig as Marcy Park, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Leaf Coneybear, Dan Fogler as William Barfee, Lisa Howard as Rona Lisa Peretti, Celia Keenan-Bolger as Olive Ostrovsky, Jose Llana as Chip Tolentino, Jay Reiss as Douglas Panch, and Sarah Saltzberg as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre with understudies Todd Buonopane, Kate Wetherhead, Willis White, and Lisa Yuen as understudies.
Directed by James Lapine alongside resident director Darren Katz, Spelling Bee featured choreography by Dan Knechtges, set design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Jennifer Caprio, lighting design by Natasha Katz, and sound design by Dan Moses Schreier, with stage management by Andrea "Spook" Testani, Kelly Hance, and Lisa Yuen. Visit the Playbill Vault for the complete cast and creative team.
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Can You Fill in the Blanks of These 14 Spelling Bee Lyrics?
Can You Fill in the Blanks of These 14 Spelling Bee Lyrics?
The show closed 10 years ago on Broadway on January 20, 2008.