The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2017)

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a musical comedy featuring music and lyrics composed by William Finn, based on a book by Rachel Sheinkin and additional material by Jay Reiss. The story follows a spelling bee held at the Putnam Valley Middle School where six pubescent, quirky school students participate for the glory of winning the ‘Bee’.

As the story progresses, we all learn to fall in love with the eclectic group of students. Sweet and shy Olive brings her best friend, the dictionary, along to the ‘Bee’; Barfee’s ‘magic foot’ propels him to greatness; Chip battles with his impending puberty and all its perks; loveable Leaf learns that perhaps he is smart enough; overachiever Marcy is disappointed by her constant successes; political advocate Logainne strives to impress her gay dads; and young Scooter, the band member, just wants to be part of the fun.

Similarly, we fall in love with Rona, a previous winner of the bee who endeavours to inject as much excitement as can be into a spelling bee; Panch, the vice principal who has returned after five years after the ‘incident’ (he is in a much better place now); and finally, Mitch Mahoney, the gentle, open guidance counsellor who is an ex-convict performing his community service at the bee.