"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" opens this Friday, July 14!

The McLean Community Players will present The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which opens July 14 and runs weekends through July 30 at Vinson Hall Retirement Community. Winner of the Tony and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee has charmed audiences across the country with its effortless wit and humor. It features a fast-paced, wildly funny and touching book by Rachel Sheinkin and a fresh and vibrant score by William Finn. Veteran directors Kevin and Pamela McCormack lead the cast and crew; Annie O’Neill Galvin and Diane Sams are producing this show.

Set at the Putnam county Middle School, the 25th Annual Spelling Bee has attracted a quirky group of six graders (played by adult actors). Each of these awkward adolescents has different reasons for wanting to win. As they work their way through the challenges of the opening rounds, they find a sense of belonging and purpose. At each performance, four audience members will be invited to participate as spellers, which can be expected to add to the comedy.

Director Kevin McCormack says, “One of the biggest strengths of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is its eclectic mix of quirky characters. Both the “kids” participating in the bee and the adults in charge of running it have eccentricities that come to seem endearing, as well as hilarious, as the audience comes to care about the characters. The adult actors in the kids’ roles must make them believable, and our cast is more than up to the challenge. The musical numbers highlight each character’s quirks. Another major strength is the participation at each performance by four audience members who have volunteered to be spellers, which adds an element of freshness and spontaneity. We are delighted to bring this funny and poignant musical to McLean audiences!

Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $23-$25 and are available at www.McLeanPlayers.org, through Brown Paper Tickets (1-800-838-3006), and at the door. Group rates are available. Performances will be in the Community Building Ballroom of Vinson Hall at 1735 Kirby Road, McLean, VA 22101. See MCP’s website for a map and parking information. With adult situations, this show is most suitable for ages 13 and older. Audio description for the visually-impaired will be offered by the Metropolitan Washington Ear at the matinee performance on Sunday, July 23, 2017. See the Accessibility page at www.McLeanPlayers.org for more information.