Wright State Theatre presents two casts in charming musical ‘25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’

Wright State Theatre’s will close its 2023–2024 season with the musical comedy “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” March 15 to 31 in the Festival Playhouse in the Creative Arts Center (Photos by Erin Pence)

Two separate casts will close Wright State University Theatre’s 2023–2024 season with the musical comedy “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” March 15 to 31.

Performances are March 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30 at 8 p.m. and March 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31 at 2 p.m. in the Festival Playhouse in the Creative Arts Center.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $23 for people 60 and older and $15 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the Creative Arts Center box office from noon to 4 p.m. weekdays or at wrightliberalarts.universitytickets.com.

Featuring a fast-paced and funny book by Rachel Sheinkin and music by William Finn, the “Spelling Bee” is an unforgettable experience, with audience members invited to participate in the bee.

The musical centers on a fictional spelling bee at Putnam Valley Middle School. Six quirky adolescents compete in the bee, run by three equally quirky adults.

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” opened on Broadway in 2005 and was nominated for six Tony Awards, and winning two, including Best Book.

Wright State’s production is directed and choreographed by Joe Deer, distinguished professor of musical theatre at Wright State, who describes the “Spelling Bee” as a perfect combination of humor, wit and heart.

“Every one of us can see some part of our own experience, our vulnerabilities and ambitions at that age and laugh at them because they are us,” he said. “I think it’s a very rare piece of theater that can do all of that with so much skill.”

“Spelling Bee” features two full casts — the Dictionary Cast and Thesaurus Cast — allowing numerous students to perform on the Festival Playhouse stage.

“It also puts on display the incredible individuality and versatility of our hugely talented students,” Deer said. “Our most devoted audience members may choose to come and see both casts.”

“Spelling Bee” will be the last show Deer directs and choreographs at Wright State as a full-time faculty member. It is a fitting final production, he said, because of its focus on exceptional young people finding their place in the world.

Wright State Theatre’s “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” features two full casts — the Dictionary Cast and Thesaurus Cast — allowing numerous students to perform on the Festival Playhouse stage.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with hundreds of students over the last 27 years at this university and many more around the world,” Deer said. “As much as we like to think that there are big differences between generations and nationalities, the reality for me is that their desire to develop their craft and be able to tell the stories that matter most to them is universal and timeless.”

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is music directed by F. Wade Russo, instructor of musical theatre, with costume design by Sean Hannah, a senior theatre design/technology major; lighting design by Matthew Benjamin, professor of theatre, and Alex Markley, a theatre design/technology student; and sound design by James Dunlap, resident sound designer.

Scenic design is by guest designer Ray Zupp, who has worked in theatres across the United States and in television and film for Netflix, HBO, Peacock, ABC, Prime Video and Disney+. His designs have been seen locally at the Human Race Theatre and the Dayton Ballet. For the last two years, he has also designed immersive attractions for major theme parks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and China.

Dictionary and Thesaurus Casts:

The Dictionary Cast will perform March 16, 22, 28 and 30 at 8 p.m. and March 17, 23 and 31 at 2 p.m.

The Thesaurus Cast will perform March 15, 21, 23 and 29 at 8 p.m. and March 16, 24 and 30 at 2 p.m.