Review: No Misspellings at This Spelling Bee! THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE opens at Allen Contemporary Theatre

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee 

Conceived by Rebecca Feldman

Book by Rachel Sheinkin

Music and Lyrics by William Finn

Directed by Eddy Herring

Produced by Allen Contemporary Theatre and H-E-B

Audience Rating: PG-13 for mature subject matter, mild language
Run Time: 2 Hours with on 15 minute intermission
Accessible Seating: Available
Hearing Devices: Not available
ASL Showing: Not Available
Sensory Friendly Show: Not Available
Sound Level: Comfortable Volume Level
Audio/Visuals to prepare For: None of note

Reviewed by Michael Winters

The word is “delightful.”
“Definition please.”
“Yes, meaning pleasant, giving great pleasure, joy, happiness.”
“Can you use it in a sentence, please?”
“Yes. The 25 th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a delightful evening of theatre.”

On the surface, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a simple show about kids taking
part in the annual spelling bee. But it really is so much more, and Allen Contemporary Theatre
finds the heart and soul of this piece. As Director Eddy Herring said in his Director’s Notes, he
wanted to find actors who could take these young characters and “make them each individually
unique.” He succeeded!

The musical, which premiered on Broadway in 2005, features a Tony-winning book by Sheinkin
(adapted from a play by Rebecca Feldman) and music and lyrics by two-time Tony winner
William Finn. The story unfolds at a middle-school spelling bee, where a quirky group of
determined contestants—joined by a few brave audience volunteers—gather to compete on
their mastery of words.

The opening number, which introduces us to the spellers and the adults running the bee, sets
the tone with energy and charm. With beautifully tight harmonies and choreography by Becca
Tischer that’s both inventive and perfectly suited to the young characters, it’s clear from the start
that we’re in for an outstanding performance.

As each character’s story unfolds, we quickly discover there’s far more happening beneath the
surface of their lives. Laura Alley, as Rona Lisa Peretti—the enthusiastic organizer of the bee
and a former champion herself—radiates a genuine affection for the competition, relishing every
moment while subtly reminding us she’s not someone you’d want to underestimate. Her vibrant
southern performance is matched by her lovely singing voice, which brings real emotional depth
when she steps into the role of Olive’s mother during “The I Love You Song.” In that heartfelt
number, young speller Olive—portrayed with touching sincerity by the talented Skyler
Navratil—longs for parents who are present, not perpetually busy or traveling the world in
search of enlightenment.

Bryson Morlan, as Chip Talentino, delivers a hysterical performance as the young man, shall we
say, discovering puberty and his attraction towards one particular female. I won’t give it away
but his song opening Act 2 is a song every man will be able to relate to based on your life as a
young guy. Morlan's expressions throughout the show are fun to watch and will created a lot of
laughs.

Keegan Arnold plays Vice Principal Panch who serves as The Pronouncer of the bee. He
provides some very funny quips about the guest spellers, especially one young lady who spelled
a very difficult word correctly which, I suspect, was really designed to eliminate the guest
speller. His quip was spot on. Panch has missed the last 5 years of the bee due to some
“personal issues” but he says he is better now. His interactions with Rona are not to be missed.

Jacob Waters as Leaf Coneybear makes his big entrance on a scooter wearing a bike helmet,
knee and elbow pads, bright pants and a cape. Right away we know this speller is, shall we
say, unique. His song, "I’m Not That Smart," shows that he struggles with his family’s low opinion
of him verses the reality that he is a great speller. This song shows the struggle with perception
and self-esteem. Something even adults deal with. Waters' physical embodiment of Chip along
with his wide eyed facial expressions creates a character who seems to enjoy life, despite the
family home life.

Logainne Schwartzandgrunenierre, portrayed by Chelsea Catalano, is a precocious
overachiever with a lisp and two dads she is desperate to impress. Her drive for parental
approval and passionate activism defines her character, as she frequently references current
political figures and advocates for change. Catalano's performance is a joy to watch and makes
you feel sad for her when her outcome does not go as planned.

Emily Febrega brings spunky energy to Marcy Park, the ultimate overachiever from a family
where only excellence is acceptable. In her song, "I Speak Six Languages," we see her struggle

with the pressure of perfection and her exhaustion from constantly trying to keep up. Febrega
masterfully handles the song’s demanding physicality, conveying Marcy’s struggle to meet
family expectations and the weight of feeling as if even God expects her to be perfect.

Mitch Mahoney, played by Christian R. Black, is an ex-con doing community service as the
Comfort Counselor, tasked with handing out juice boxes to eliminated kids. Though clueless at
offering comfort, he secretly wishes he could help. Black's vocals on each "Goodbye Song"
blend a smart-aleck charm with a little empathy, hinting at the compassionate person Mitch
eventually becomes.

Skylar Navratil brings Olive Ostrovsky to life as a sweet, kind, and overlooked girl who adores
words and her oversized dictionary, which she calls “her friend.” Starting as the clear underdog,
Olive grows into someone meaningful to those around her, with Navratil delivering the show’s
most poignant moments in a warm and heartfelt way.

Blake Rice brings William Barfée to life in a performance full of flair and growth. Using his
“magic foot” to write words on the ground before spelling them aloud, William starts as a
somewhat arrogant loner but gradually discovers the kindness of others—all while maintaining
his signature style.

I won’t spoil the ending of who ultimately wins the spelling bee to receive the trophy, but it’s safe
to say each character comes out a winner with their self-discovery and hopefully continues to
grow from their experience at the bee.

The technical staff also deserve applause. Musical Direction by Timothy Jenkins and his
drummer, Gabe Dameron provide the perfect accompaniment for the show. Melinda Cotton’s lighting design was colorful and had movement while enhancing the moments. Reagan Wren had her work cut out for her as the Scenic Painter painting the many, many, many lines of the gym floor. The team is rounded out by Greg Cotton as Sound Designer, each line was crystal clear, Bill Wash as the Master Builder creating bleachers, and Kenneth Fulenwider keeping everyone in the spotlight. All of this was held together by Stage Manager and Asst. Director, Sinan Beskok.

The characters in The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee take a journey of growth
showing that the ending is not about spelling or the bee or who wins. It’s about the growing and
learning each character experiences. With strong voices, characters and technical elements,
this production is absolutely DELIGHTFUL! Tickets can be found at allencontemporarytheatre.net

Don’t be afraid to take the journey theatre offers. It’s worth the trip.

Michael