Elgin Summer Theatre
Elgin Summer Theatre presents The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Elgin, IL - Elgin Summer Theatre (EST) presents THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE which will run at The Hemmens Cultural Center July 14 - 16 and July 21 - 23, 2017.
This Tony-Award winning musical has charmed audiences across the country with its effortless wit and humor as it follows a group of eccentric adolescents in their quest for 1st prize in the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of words, hoping to never hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake.
Created by Rebecca Feldman with additional material by Jay Reiss, SPELLING BEE features a funny and touching book by Rachel Sheinkin and a fresh and vibrant score by William Finn. Originally starting as a non-musical play entitled C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E, performed by the improvisation group “The Farm,” the show was eventually turned into a full-length musical. Opening Off-Broadway to rave reviews, SPELLING BEE then moved to Broadway in 2005 again receiving outstanding critical and box-office achievement. The New York Times called it, “Effortlessly endearing…Gold stars all around.”
The Elgin production of SPELLING BEE is directed by Terry Broeker, new to EST this year. Past EST performances include Hair, Grease, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Annie, Jesus Christ Superstar, Rent, BroadwayWorld Chicago Award Nominees Next to Normal, and A Chorus Line.
EST is a showcase for regional talent and is funded through a grant from the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission and the City of Elgin.
Show times are 8 pm July 14, 15, 21 and 22, with 3 pm matinees on July 16 and 23. $15 - $20 reserved seating. Tickets are available at The Hemmens Box Office, by phone at 847-931-5900 or by going to www.hemmens.org.
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