TheatreWorks’ “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” Is a Fun-Filled Production for This Holiday Season

By Ron Friedenthal

     TheatreWorks Silicon Valley production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” offers a rather jolly treat for this holiday season as it is fun, full of laughs, and is very uplifting. In this charming musical comedy, middle-school misfits personified by adult actors face off in a spelling showdown, vying for glory and a coveted slot at the National Spelling Bee. While they wage war with words like “crepuscular” and “hasenpfeffer,” this ragtag crew wrestles with the highs and lows of competition, finding self-discovery along the way. This heartwarming hit is a joyous look at adolescence through an adult’s lens, and captures all the chaos, heartbreak, and elation of becoming a childhood champion.

     A talented cast has been assembled to bring to life this exuberant musical including a number of cast members who are making their TheatreWorks debut. Among them areDave J. Abrams, who makes his TheatreWorks mainstage debut as Chip Tolentino, a Boy Scout who won last year’s Putnam County Spelling Bee but experiences an unfortunate obstacle while defending his title. Blake Kevin Dwyer also makes his TheatreWorks debut as Leaf Coneybear, a homeschooled kid who is the second runner-up from his district and is constantly distracted.

     Maia Ingram Campbell makes her TheatreWorks debut as Olive Ostrovsky, a shy girl whose best friend is the dictionary while Mai Abe makes her TheatreWorks debut as Marcy Park, a chronic overachiever who speaks six languages and wins at everything she does.Beau Bradshaw makes his TheatreWorks debut as William Barfée, an obnoxious kid plagued by allergies who uses his magic foot to help him spell while Anthone Duriel Jackson makes his TheatreWorks debut as Mitch Mahoney, the comfort counselor who is performing community service at the Spelling Bee by handing out juice boxes to the kids who are eliminated.

     Jenni Chapman returns to TheatreWorks as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre (Schwartzy), the youngest of the spellers who is driven by the desire to make her two fathers proud. Molly Bell returns to TheatreWorks as Rona Lisa Peretti, a former Putnam County Spelling Bee champion who is now a moderator, while Christopher Reber returns to TheatreWorks as Douglas Panch, the vice principal who moderates the Spelling Bee.

     At each performance a few audience members are also selected to be a part of the “cast” as they infuse some fun as competitors, They are certainly not prepared for what they have volunteered to do. On the night I attended four characters were brought in from the audience, and one was such a good speller that she actually stayed longer on stage than was called for in the script.

     “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” features musical direction by William Liberatore, choreography by Lee Ann Payne, scenic design by Andrea Bechert, costume design by Courtney Flores, lighting design by Steven B. Mannshardt with associate lighting designer Jarku Tang, and sound design by Jeff Mockus.

     We all can remember the pettiness of middle school,  but what makes this play so inspirational is how the characters bond as the play unfolds.  The audience is engaged and is laughing throughout the one act play.  I am sure each audience member can identify with one or more of the play’s characters.

     If you want a good laugh and a diversion from current affairs, I recommend seeing TheatreWorks’ production of The “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”, which continues through Dec 24. Don’t miss it!

     “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” will be presented through December 24, 2023 at Lucie Stern Theatre (1305 Middlefield Road), Palo Alto. For tickets (starting at $27) and more information the public may visit TheatreWorks.org or call (877)-662-8978.

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Photo caption: The cast (background l to r: Maia Campbell, Mai Abe, Dave J. Abrams, Blake Kevin Dwyer, Jenni Chapman, and Molly Bell) extolls Barfée's (Beau Bradshaw) spelling superpower in TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," currently performing through December 24. (Photo Credit: Kevin Berne)