Music & Lyrics by William Finn // Book by Rachel Sheinkin // Conceived by Rebecca Feldman
Additional material by Jay Reiss // Originally directed on Broadway by James Lapine
NHCC Department of Theater Main Stage Musical Theater Production // Fall 2024
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (a musical) has charmed its way into Broadway history as a “modern classic.” The story centers on a fictional Spelling Bee contest for middle-schoolers in the gym of Putnam Valley Middle School. An eclectic group of six quirky 11-13-year-olds (played by adult actors) vie for the coveted title of spelling champion and a trip to nationals in Washington, D.C.!
While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching details about their complex tween lives, the contestants also spell their way – round by round – through a series of challenging words.
Six spellers enter; one speller leaves at a cutthroat Spelling Bee run by three equally offbeat grown-ups! The ride to find the champion speller is WILD, complete with audience participation. At least the losing spellers get a juice box ... The 25TH Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a delightful gem of musical comedy genius.
CREATIVE TEAM
CAST:
Kurtis Banks, NHCC Student
Aani Bedi, NHCC Student
Cate Causey-Mullaney, NHCC Student
Weston Coklas, NHCC Student
Douglas Cox, NHCC Student
Brennan Hafermann, NHCC Student
Tristan Hoole, NHCC Student
Jaden Jackson, NHCC Student
Esther Riang’a, NHCC Student
Emilia Schmidt, NHCC Student
DIRECTED BY DR. IRMA MAYORGA, THEATRE FACULTY
MUSIC DIRECTION - MARTINAO MAYOTTE, Guest Artist
CHOREOGRAPHY - NOELLE BOHATY, Guest Artist
CHOREOGRAPHY ASSISTANCE - JOSHUA DYKHOFF, NHCC STUDENT
STAGE MANAGER - MCKAYLA HENDERSON, NHCC STUDENT
COSTUME DESIGN - ELEANOR SCHANILEC, Guest Artist
SCENIC & LIGHTING DESIGN + TECHNICAL DIRECTION - LISA KUDAS, THEATRE FACULTY
SOUND DESIGNER - TOM SHERMAN, Guest Artist
PERFORMANCE DATES
NOV. 13, 14,* 15 & 16 @ 7:30PM
NOV. 16 @ 2:00PM (MATINEE)
*ASL interpreted performance
LOCATION: NHCC Main Theater located in the Fine Arts Center
Seating for this performance will be general admission. Reservations strongly encouraged.
Tickets // Reservations
Content Advisory
- Mature themes
- Sexually suggestive content
Due to mature subject matter, we do not recommend this production for children under the age of 12.
Approximately 110 minutes.
All NHCC students receive 2 FREE tickets!
RESERVE TICKETS HERE
You will be redirected to our MicroSoft Forms ticket reservation system.
- Please know that no one will be turned away because of an inability to pay suggested admission.
- No payment of any kind is required to make a reservation. Suggested admission is collected at our theater Box Office on the day of attendance.
- Our Box Office will open approximately 30 minutes before each performance. The Box Office will be located in the lobby of the NHCC Fine Arts Center.
- All ticket sales for NHCC Department of Theatre & Film productions are used exclusively to help to sustain the Department of Theatre & Film’s creative work with NHCC students.
- General admission seating.
Please plan to arrive early to the performance in order to check-in and find your seating. Latecomers will be seated in the theater at the discretion of house managers.
Information
- Masks are not required on the NHCC campus, and they are not required for audience members to attend this performance.
- All persons who need or require the protection that masks provide for medical conditions are encouraged to wear masks during their attendance.
WHEN TO STAY HOME // KEEPING AUDIENCE MEMBERS SAFE
If you or someone in your party is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms (such as fever, a sore throat, chills, cough, shortness of breath, congestion, nausea, or vomiting), we strongly encourage you to stay home.
OR, if you are experiencing common cold OR flu symptoms (especially coughing & sneezing) on the date of your selected attendance to this performance, we strongly encourage you to stay home.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Be will be performed in the NHCC Main Theater, located in the NHCC Fine Arts Center.
- The NHCC Fine Arts Center is located at the intersection of 84th Ave. N. & W. Broadway Ave. in Brooklyn Park, MN.
- Parking is available in the NHCC West Parking lot - also located at the intersection of 84th Ave. N. and W. Broadway Ave.
- Parking on campus is free for visitors and large surface lots are located directly beside the Fine Arts Center.
- Fine Arts Center Building Map
- NHCC Campus Maps
Before each performance, our physical Box Office will be located in the lobby of the NHCC Fine Arts center.
Our Box Office will open approximately 30 minutes before each performance.
Please check-in at the Box Office to obtain your FREE ticket/s or to check-in for your online reservation.
Audience members will be seated approximately 10 minutes before each performance.
We kindly request on time arrivals for this production's scheduled start time - late arrivals will be seated in the theater at the discretion of house managers.
This performance will run approximately 110 minutes with no intermission.
Patrons with mobility needs are warmly encouraged to plan their visit and accommodations with us before they arrive to the performance. Also, directly before each performance, patrons can coordinate accessible seating needs with house managers, who will be located in our lobby area near the Box Office before each performance.
This performance will offer an accessible seating area that can be accessed without steps. This area is reserved for patrons using wheelchairs or to accommodate those who prefer not to navigate steps. Please check in with house management (located in the lobby) so that we can guide you to the accessible seating area.
Entrances to the Fine Arts Center building are outfitted with ADA door openers. Restrooms located directly adjacent to the Main Theater lobby feature ADA compliant stalls.
For more information or questions, please contact:
ASL interpretation will be provided for the Nov. 14th performance. Please contact irma.mayorga@nhcc.edu for further information.
Please check-in with our Box Office when you arrive. We will help to seat you in the seating area designated near the location of our ASL interpreters in the theater.
If you have questions concerning attendance to or information about this performance, please reach out to us!
Please contact:
NHCC Theatre Faculty