The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee debuts at West Leyden

Leyden’s Fine Arts Department presents the lively musical comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, February 27, 28, 29, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 1, in the auditorium at West Leyden High School, 1000 N. Wolf Rd., Northlake.

The story revolves around a fictional spelling bee set in the geographically vague Putnam Valley Middle School. Six quirky sixth-graders compete in the Bee that is run by three equally eccentric grown-ups. Each of the competitive adolescents is determined to win for very different reasons – all of which are revealed as the students spell their way through the competition. Based on a book by Rachel Sheinkin, with music and lyrics by William Finn, audience members can’t help but embrace the delightfully “idiosyncratic” spellers.

Produced by Leyden’s Fine Arts Department, this engaging tale showcases the musical, theatrical and technical talents of students from both campuses.

Admission is $3 for students and $5 for adults. For more information, please visit www.leyden212.org/finearts.