Staff reports | Happenings & Events
TheaterWorks will present The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee from 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 to 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9 at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts.
The Tony Award-winning musical comedy will feature an immersive audience experience that begins before the curtain rises.
For this production, TheaterWorks will transform the venue into Putnam Valley Middle School, complete with interactive elements, character encounters and themed décor. At each performance, four audience members will be invited on stage as guest spellers. Select shows will also feature celebrity guest spellers, including Arizona native Sam Primack, who starred in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway in 2022, and KTAR radio host Bruce St. James.
“This show is un-bee-lievably fun,” said Paul Pedersen, director of patron experience at TheaterWorks. “Not only is it a Tony-winning musical filled with heart and hilarity, but the immersive pre-show experience and guest speller opportunities mean no two performances are ever the same. Our audiences are truly part of the production.”
The immersive format builds on TheaterWorks’ previous productions of Curiouser & Curiouser in 2020 and 2021, which drew nearly 5,000 attendees and earned national attention, including an Emmy Award-winning documentary.
On stage, the musical follows six middle schoolers (played by adults) competing in a county spelling bee. Through humor, improvisation and audience participation, the show explores themes of belonging and self-discovery. The score is by William Finn.
