Edited by Randi Bjornstad

Onstage now through March 2 at Pegasus Playhouse, six young competitors vie in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, a musical comedy that pits six young competitors against each other as they try to be the last one standing — or at least spelling correctly.

It’s not only a performance but an interactive experience in which members of the audience also get a chance to participate. It’s partly scripted, partly improv, partly comedy, and partly nerve-wracking as the contestants spell their hearts out, hoping against hope that they won’t hear the dreaded bell that indicates they — horrors — misspelled a word.

In between the spelling challenges, the youngsters share stories from their own lives with each other, ranging from hilarious to poignant. In the end, only one contestant will win, but as it’s described, “Even the losers won’t leave empty-handed, thanks to a consolation prize of a juice box.”

Lest you feel to old for this kind of thing, the New York Times reportedly called The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee “remarkably ingenious,” with Broadway World declaring it to be “the most fun you’ll ever have going to the theater.” Oh, and Center Stage dubbed it “utterly hilarious, surprisingly warm, and almost criminally entertaining.”

The Pegasus Playhouse production is directed and choreographed by Scott Frazier-Maskiell, with musical direction and piano by Nathalie Fortin. The cast includes Adeline Daggett, Zavier Cruz, Atlas Bookey, Nick Guldager, Grace White, Noah Oristano, Spoon Meiners, Mila Dahl, and Story Frazier-Maskiell.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee continues at Pegasus Playhouse

When: 6 p.m. on Sundays, Feb. 23 and March 2; and 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 28 and March 1

Where: Pegasus Playhouse, 402 Main St., Springfield

Tickets: $25 for adults, $17 for students, available at online at pegasusplayhouse.com, by telephone at 541-515-6569, or by email at pegasusplayhouse@gmail.com

 

 

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