The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Conceived by Rebecca Feldman
Additional Material by Jay Reiss
Music and Lyrics by William Finn
Book by Rachel Sheinkin
Director/Music Director: Kyle Davis
Stage Manager: Dana Pellegrin
Choreographer: Laura Hamilton
VOCAL AUDITIONS: Saturday August 16, 2025 (10:00am-6:00pm) held at the theatre
DANCE CALL: Saturday August 16, 2025 (6pm-8pm; mandatory for all auditionees) held at the theatre
CALLBACKS: Sunday August 17, 2025 (2pm-6pm) held at the theatre
REHEARSALS: August 2025 - November 2025
PERFORMANCES: November 6-9, 2025
TO SCHEDULE AN AUDITION, PLEASE FILL OUT THE AUDITION FORM. THE LINK IS BELOW.
https://forms.gle/eK5DyHfuQDdnE94S9
**Once you have filled out the audition form, you will receive audition times and any other information you may need via email.** Those auditioning should prepare a song from another musical in the style of SPELLING BEE. Please come with an INSTRUMENTAL/KARAOKE track that will be hooked up to the sound system.
SYNOPSIS:
An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming "ding" of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves a champion! At least the losers get a juice box.
CASTING NOTES:
-Casting 9 performers.
- Must be 16 or older to audition.
-ALL ages and ethnicities are encouraged to audition for ALL roles
Chip Tolentino (M)
An athletic, social, boy scout and champion of the Twenty-Fourth Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, he returns to defend his title, but he finds puberty hitting at an inopportune moment.
Age Range: Plays ~13
Vocal range top: B4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Logainne Schwartzandgrubeniere (F)
Logainne is the youngest and most politically aware speller, often making comments about current political figures. She is driven by internal and external pressure, but above all by a desire to win to make her two fathers proud. She is somewhat of a neat freak, speaks with a lisp, and will be back next year.
Age Range: Plays ~11
Vocal range top: G5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Leaf Coneybear (M)
The second runner-up in his district, Leaf gets into the competition on a lark and finds everything about the bee incredibly amusing. He is home-schooled and comes from a large family of former hippies. He has severe Attention Deficit Disorder and spells words correctly while in a trance.
Age Range: Plays ~12
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: A2
William Barfee (M)
A Putnam County Spelling Bee finalist last year, he was eliminated because of an allergic reaction to peanuts and is back for vindication. His famous "Magic Foot" method of spelling has boosted him to spelling glory, even though he only has one working nostril and a touchy, bullying personality. He develops a crush on Olive.
Age Range: Plays ~12
Vocal range top: Bb4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Marcy Park (F)
The ultimate over-achiever, Marcy has never been given another option. She comes from a family where excellence is expected and so simply produced. A parochial school student, she assumes God, too, expects perfection. She sees herself as a mass of problems but she keeps them to herself. Having moved often because of her parents' work, she knows she can beat the local competition. Her many talents include piano, dance, martial arts, baton twirling, and/or whatever special gifts you can find in your casting pool.
Age Range: Plays ~12
Vocal range top: Eb5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Olive Ostrovsky (F)
A young newcomer to competitive spelling. Her mother is in an ashram in India, and her father is working late, as usual, but he is trying to come sometime during the bee. Having found comfort in its words and vastness, Olive made friends with her dictionary at a very young age, helping her to make it to the competition. She starts enormously shy, and shyly blossoms.
Age Range: Plays ~12
Vocal range top: F#5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Rona Lisa Peretti (F)
The number-one realtor in Putnam County, a former Putnam County Spelling Bee Champion herself, and the returning moderator. She is a sweet woman who loves children, but she can be very stern when it comes to dealing with Vice Principal Panch and his feelings for her. Her interest in the competition is unflagging and drives it forward.
Age Range: 30–50s
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: C4
Douglas Panch (M)
The Vice Principal. Frustrated with his life, he finds the drive of the young spellers alien to him. After five years' absence from the Bee, Panch returns as judge. There was an "incident" at the Twentieth Annual Bee, but he claims to be in "a better place" now, thanks to a high-fiber diet and Jungian analysis. He is infatuated with Rona Lisa Peretti, but she does not return his affections.
Age Range: 30-60
Vocal range top: non-singing
Vocal range bottom: non-singing
Mitch / Michelle Mahoney (M or F)
The Official Comfort Counselor. An ex-convict, Mitch / Michelle is performing his / her community service with the Bee, and hands out juice boxes to losing students. He / She has no idea how to offer comfort, but does find himself / herself wishing he / she could find a way to make the kids feel better.
Age Range: 20s-40s
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: E3
We hope to see you there! If you have any questions regarding auditions, please contact Artistic Director Mason Clark at
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