It’s Not Easy Learning That Winning (And Losing) Isn’t Everything
Conceived by Rebecca Feldman, Additional Material by Jay Reiss, Music and Lyrics by William Finn, Book by Rachel Sheinkin
No. No. No. This is not a real spelling bee. It’s a show—a hysterical musical comedy.
And Putnam County just happens to be the location of this fictional musical spelling bee–it is not meaning Putnam County, FL!
But it could have been. It could have been here—or anywhere. These could be our children. It could be you or your neighbor reading out the words, giving goofy definitions, and offering hilarious and sometimes poignant usage examples.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee takes spell-bound audiences to a fictional contest held in a Middle School where six unforgettably peculiar early teens face each other in a competition supervised by three comically idiosyncratic grown-ups. Adding to the fun are four audience members who agree to appear as spellers. On Broadway, Al Sharpton and Julie Andrews were among them (Play Bill 1/27/2008). Flash backs show play goers the flawed parental relations which have shaped the pressure ridden spellers and reveal to audiences the real children behind their not-quite-polished public faces.
With a Tony Award winning book, this is a must-see finale for the Athens Theatre’s season
Not recommended for audiences younger than 13.
Run time: 1 hours & 40 minutes (plus a 15-minute intermission)
Presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI)
Reserve Seating
Preferred $31 (Row A-F, Orchestra & CC-DD Center Balcony)
Adult $26 – Senior $24
Student/Child $12 – Groups of 8 or more $22
A $3.00 per ticket Processing charge is added to all purchases.
Due to the fact that the Historic Athens Theatre does not have an elevator to the balcony. The balcony is not accessible to anyone with a wheelchair or walker.
All Patrons with special needs can contact the Box Office at 386-736-1500 for our wheelchair/walker accessible seating.
Special Box Seat Package
Catered exclusively by Joe Hearn Events, The Elusive Grape, and Pat & Toni’s Sweet Things.
$360 – Price includes:
- Up to 10 seats in the Box Seat and Balcony area
- Choice of Red/White Wine
- Cheese Platter
- Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Please contact the Box Office at 386-736-1500, for this Package.
(a $3 processing fee will be applied for each ticket in the package)