THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

Meet the cast of Cedar Springs Community Players’ production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee!

Six delightfully quirky young spellers gather to compete for the coveted county spelling championship, each bringing their own hopes, insecurities, talents, and wonderfully unique personality to the Bee. Presiding over the competition are three unforgettable adults — a former spelling champion who takes the Bee very seriously, a word pronouncer with a decidedly unpredictable approach, and a “comfort counselor” responsible for helping eliminated contestants make their exit.

As the words get harder and the competition heats up, we discover there’s much more at stake than a trophy. Filled with hilarious improvisation, audience participation, unexpected tenderness, and a fantastic score, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a funny and heartfelt look at the pressure to succeed, the awkwardness of growing up, and the realization that sometimes losing isn’t the worst thing in the world.

PERFORMANCES

October 22–25, 2026

The Kent Theatre – Cedar Springs, Michigan

Get Your Tickets Here!

THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

Music and Lyrics by William Finn

Book by Rachel Sheinkin

Conceived by Rebecca Feldman

Additional Material by Jay Reiss

Originally Directed on Broadway by James Lapine

Originally produced on Broadway by David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whitman, Patrick Catullo, Barrington Stage Company, Second Stage Theatre

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

🌟 Cedar Spring Community Jr. Players 2027 WINTER SHOWCASE 🌟

The stage is yours—shine on! ✨

🎭 Open to all students in Grades 1–12

Every student will receive a role, and performers will be divided into two groups based on age and experience:

Grades 1–5:Alice — Novice
Grades 6 & Up:Romeo and Juliet (Modern English) — Advanced

💲 Participation Fee: $30

📅 Rehearsals: Saturdays, January 23–February 27 – at the CS United Methodist Church.
⏰ 12:00–2:00 p.m.
❄️ No rehearsal February 20

🎬 Showcase Performance:
Saturday, February 27, 2027 at 2:00 p.m.
📍 The Kent Theatre

🎟️ Each family will receive 2 FREE tickets to attend the showcase!

📝 Registration Deadline: January 17, 2027

🚨 SPACE IS LIMITED! 🚨
If your student would like to participate, we encourage you to register now to make sure they have a spot. We want to give every actor the opportunity to perform, but once our groups are full, registration will close.

👉 Register here