Audition dates: January 13 - 5:30-8:00p, January 14 - 1:00-5:00p, January 15 - callbacks if needed

Six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser.

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is a hilarious tale of overachievers' angst chronicling the experience of six adolescent outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. The audience gets a glimpse into lives of our spellers, each having their own individual quirks that make us fall in love with each of them.

SPELLING BEE calls for at least nine strong character actors.  Each character plays their own unique role in the running of the show.  Individuality is key.  Some characters double, and results of auditions will determine how many actors will end up doubling.  Actors should come prepared with something that showcases who they are as performers, not just singers.  Each character has at least one solo, and all characters will be expected to sing harmony well.

SPELLING BEE is also unique in that it uses audience volunteers each night, which means each show has a different twist.

ROLES TO CONSIDER:

CHIP TOLENTINO - a boy scout and champion of the 24th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, he returns to defend his title, but he finds puberty hitting at an inopportune moment.  Tenor - C3-B4  

 LEAF CONEYBEAR - The second runner up in his district, Leaf gets into the competition on a lark - the winner and first runner-up had to go to the winner's B at Mitzvah.  Leaf comes from a large family of former hippies and makes his own clothes.  He spells words correctly while in a trance.  In his song "I'm Not That Smart" he sings that his family thinks he isn't smart, but he insinuates that he is merely easily distracted.  Most of the words that he is assigned are South American rodents with amusing names.  Baritone/Tenor - A2-G4

 LOGAINNE SCHWARTZANDGRUNENIERRE (SCHWARTZY) - Logainne is the youngest and most politically aware speller, often making comments about current political figures, with two overbearing homosexual fathers.  She is somewhat of a neat freak, speaks with a lisp, and will be back next year.  Soprano - C4-D5.