"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" Musical Needs Cast
Actors for musical "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee". ONLY LOCAL TALENT WILL BE CONSIDERED. See more info below. About the project: A wildly funny and surprisingly poignant musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee invites us into the chaotic, charming world of adolescent overachievers. Six awkward and earnest kids — and a few audience volunteers — gather in a middle school gymnasium to compete for the coveted title of spelling champion. But as the bee unfolds, it becomes clear that each contestant brings far more than memorized word lists to the mic: they carry dreams, heartbreak, anxieties, and the desperate need to be seen. Set in a buzzing gym, the show bursts with humor and heart, driven by energetic songs, unpredictable audience participation, and razor-sharp wit. The quirky contestants face off under the watchful eyes of Rona Lisa Peretti, a former champion-turned-host, the increasingly unhinged Vice Principal Panch, and Mitch Mahoney, an ex-con comfort counselor with surprising tenderness. This Tony Award-winning musical transforms a simple spelling competition into an uproarious and heartfelt journey through growing up, letting go, and finding where you belong. A celebration of individuality, intelligence, and the oddball in all of us. Additional info: *Contains adult language and situations. Please prepare a 1-minute to 1.5-minute cut of a song of your choice NOT from the show. Please bring your sheet music, track, or have a YouTube link with start/stop times on a device ready to plug into a speaker or connect to Bluetooth. Actors may be asked to do a cold reading from the script. The roles double as other characters. Auditions are open to performers of all backgrounds, identities and ethnicities. Directors encourage all interested in auditioning to listen to the cast recording before auditioning. Callbacks will take place on 11/10/2025 at 6:00 pm. Performances: March 19th - 22nd, 2026. If you are interested, please apply.
9 roles
[Vocal Top: B4 Bottom: C3] - An athletic, social, boy scout and champion of the Twenty-Fourth Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, he returns to defend his title, but he finds puberty hitting at an inopportune moment.
[Top: G5 Bottom: G3] - She is the youngest and most politically aware speller, often making comments about current political figures. She is driven by internal and external pressure, but above all by a desire to win to make her two fathers proud. She is somewhat of a neat freak, speaks with a lisp, and will be back next year.
[Top: A4 Bottom: A2] - The second runner-up in his district, Leaf gets into the competition on a lark and finds everything about the bee incredibly amusing. He is home-schooled and comes from a large family of former hippies. He has severe Attention Deficit Disorder and spells words correctly while in a trance.
[Top: Bb4 Bottom: C3] - A Putnam County Spelling Bee finalist last year, he was eliminated because of an allergic reaction to peanuts and is back for vindication. His famous "Magic Foot" method of spelling has boosted him to spelling glory, even though he only has one working nostril and a touchy, bullying personality. He develops a crush on Olive.
[Top: Eb5 Bottom: A3] - The ultimate over-achiever, Marcy has never been given another option. She comes from a family where excellence is expected and so simply produced. A parochial school student, she assumes God, too, expects perfection. She sees herself as a mass of problems but she keeps them to herself. Having moved often because of her parents' work, she knows she can beat the local competition. Her many talents include piano, dance, martial arts, baton twirling, etc.
[Top: F#5 Bottom: A3] - A young newcomer to competitive spelling. Her mother is in an ashram in India, and her father is working late, as usual, but he is trying to come sometime during the bee. Having found comfort in its words and vastness, Olive made friends with her dictionary at a very young age, helping her to make it to the competition. She starts enormously shy, and shyly blossoms.
[Top: E5 Bottom: C4] - The number-one realtor in Putnam County, a former Putnam County Spelling Bee Champion herself, and the returning moderator. She is a sweet woman who loves children, but she can be very stern when it comes to dealing with Vice Principal Panch and his feelings for her. Her interest in the competition is unflagging and drives it forward.
[Non-singing Role] - The Vice Principal. Frustrated with his life, he finds the drive of the young spellers alien to him. After five years' absence from the Bee, Panch returns as judge. There was an "incident" at the Twentieth Annual Bee, but he claims to be in "a better place" now, thanks to a high-fiber diet and Jungian analysis. He is infatuated with Rona Lisa Peretti, but she does not return his affections.
[Top:A4 Bottom: E3] - The Official Comfort Counselor. An ex-convict, Mitch is performing his community service with the Bee, and hands out juice boxes to losing students. He has no idea how to offer comfort, but does find himself wishing he could find a way to make the kids feel better.
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