Can you spell (K-E-I-T-H  A-L-B-E-E)?

BROADWAY’S TONY AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL COMEDY

Comes to the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center

8 PM Tuesday, April 28^th

“The Sweet Spell of Success”— The New York Times

The Marshall Artists Series closes their 72^nd season with the Tony Award-winning musical comedy THE 25^THANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, at the Keith—Albee Performing Arts Center, 8PM Tuesday, April 28^th.

THE 25^TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEEcenters around six young people in the throes of puberty, who are overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn’t everything and that losing doesn’t necessarily make you a loser. This tuneful, offbeat and at times heartwarming show offers audience members the opportunity (strictly voluntary) to become part of the action as on-stage spellers.  “Can you spell i-r-r-e-s-i-s-t-i-b-l-e?

SPELLING BEE is riotously funny and remarkably ingenious. “Gold stars all around,” says the New York Times.  In the Wall Street Journal, SPELLING BEE was called, “perfect in every possible way – that rarity of rarities, a super-smart musical that is also a bona fide crowd-pleaser. An ingenious blend of simplicity and sophistication, it’s not merely funny, it’s wise.”

THE 25^TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is based on C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E, an original play by The Farm improv group in New York City.  SPELLING BEE had its world premiere production in July 2004 at Barrington Stage Company, Sheffield, MA. Under the direction of James Lapine, SPELLING BEE officially opened Off-Broadway on February 7, 2005 at Second Stage Theatre, where it ran from January 11 through March 20, 2005.  The show then moved to Broadway’s Circle in the Square Theatre, with previews beginning on April 15, 2005 and an official opening on May 2, 2005.  The Broadway production closed January 20, 2008. SPELLING BEE is

Tickets for The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Beeare on sale NOW, and may be purchased at The Marshall Artists Series Box Office, located in the Joan C. Edwards Playhouse, open Monday—Friday, noon—5 P.M.  Patrons my also call the Box Office at (304)-696-6656, or (304)-523-5757. Adult ticket prices are $55/$50/$45. Youth Ticket prices are $27.50/$25/$22.50. Tickets may also be purchased on-line at www.marshallartistsseries.org, orwww.ticketmaster.com

The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is sponsored by:  Steve & Mary Williams, Boggs Roofing, Neighborgall Construction, Huntington Testing & Technology, Verizon, Air Systems Inc. WKEE, B97, WTCR, The Herald Dispatch, WSAZ, Marshall University, The College of Fine Arts, & The Marshall Artists Series.

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For more information about THE 25^TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE,

please visit www.spellingbeethemusical.com.