"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" Needs Teens

Middle school aged character. Male-identifying, excellent actor, contemporary tenor, strong mover. The reigning spelling champion of Putnam County, he expects things to come easily to him. Lately he’s been going through some changes, and feels that things are slipping out of his control. *Please note that in this production, “Chip’s Lament” will feature the alternate lyrics “My Unfortunate Distraction”*

Middle school aged character. Female identifying, excellent actor, contemporary mezzo-soprano, strong mover. Younger than most bee participants, she is driven by a desire to win to make her two fathers (from whom she takes her combined last name) proud. She lisps and is a little uncomfortable in her body, but still manages to strike a strong presence with her political awareness and keen sense of justice.

Middle school aged character. Male-identifying, excellent actor, contemporary baritone, strong mover. Homeschooled with his many siblings, Leaf may have Attention Deficit Disorder, but delights in his own wandering focus. He doesn’t expect to win, but everything about the spelling bee is an adventure for him, from meeting the other kids to showing off his homemade clothing. His mother has made him wear a protective helmet.

Middle school aged character. Male-identifying, excellent actor, contemporary tenor, very strong mover. Tap dance skills a plus. Loud and combative as a defensive posture, William becomes a bully to avoid being picked on. He’s noticed on the spelling circuit for his remarkable technique: spelling words out on the floor with his foot. After being removed from the competition last year because of an ill-timed allergic reaction, he’s at the bee for vindication.

Especially interested BIPOC actors for this role. Middle school aged character. Female-identifying, excellent actor, contemporary mezzo-soprano, strong mover. Dance, tumbling, piano, violin, and any other special skills a plus. The ultimate over-achiever, Marcy comes from a family where excellence is expected, and she always delivers. As a parochial school student, she assumes that God, too, expects perfection. She keeps her personal problems to herself.

Middle school aged character. Female-identifying, excellent actor, contemporary mezzo-soprano, strong mover. An only child with often absent parents, Olive spends most of her time alone. The words of her dictionary bring her comfort, and she is fascinated by the vastness of the world the book contains. She often peers into the audience to see if her father, who is delayed at work, has made it yet. Olive starts the bee enormously shy, and slowly comes out of her shell.

Female-identifying, excellent actor and contemporary mezzo soprano. Strong improvisation skills a plus. Putnam’s long-time spelling bee hostess, a local realtor, and the third annual Putnam County spelling champion, Rona thinks of the spelling bee as a complex cerebral sporting event, conveying to the audience every twist and turn. She is a little embarrassed that her own championship moment remains such a highlight.

Male identifying, excellent actor. Strong improvisation skills a plus. Stuck in his current job and endlessly awaiting a promotion that isn’t coming, he was not happy to get the call this morning that he was needed to substitute. However, he starts the bee eager to do well, redeem himself for past mistakes, and impress the local hostess, Rona Lisa, who impressed him long ago.

Especially interested in BIPOC actors for this role. Male-identifying, excellent actor, contemporary baritone with tenor extension, strong mover. With a bouncer’s demeanor, Mitch appears an odd choice to be the bee’s “comfort counselor,” but it’s part of his community service assignment. The outsider, he wonders about the wisdom of putting the kids through this at all.

Male-identifying, comedic actor and confident singer. Logan’s main spelling trainer, the more intense and competitive of her two fathers.

Male-identifying, comedic actor and confident singer. The more laid back and ineffectual of Logan’s two fathers.

Strong actor. A vision evoked by a speller in need.

Middle school-aged characters. Strong actors and confident singers. Seeking all types, vocal ranges, and gender identities.