Adult Night Planned for San Francisco 'Bee'

Can you spell @-#-!-*-$-%?

On Sunday evening, June 4 at 7 pm, there will be a special "for-mature-audiences-only" performance of San Francisco's The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. On this night, the kids should be left home with the sitter, because no one under the age 17 will be admitted to Parent/Teacher Night at the Post Street Theatre!

Spelling Bee is the Tony Award-winning musical with music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, conceived by Rebecca Feldman and directed by James Lapine. 

Jay Reiss, who originated the role of Vice Principal Douglas Panch on Broadway and writes some of the definitions and unhelpful sentences used in the show, explains the genesis of this special performance: "During rehearsals, I would occasionally cross the line a bit with the definitions and sentences and use some material that was pretty filthy. The cast would crack up, and director James Lapine would say, 'That is so wrong.' On Sunday, June 4, the Bay Area will get to hear some of that material, which is sure to leave them suitably outraged…but laughing."

In The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, six young people in the throes of puberty, 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 sit-down production of Spelling Bee officially opened in San Francisco on March 1 and has been capturing the hearts and funny bones of theatergoers and critics ever since. It is playing at the Post Street Theatre (450 Post St., 2nd floor, San Francisco, CA). This engagement is open-ended. The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday through Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 & 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 & 7 p.m. Tickets range in price from $40–$66. Sunday performances (including June 4), all seats are $40.

A limited number of $25 rush tickets are available at the Post Street Theatre box office two hours prior to each performance. Tickets are for same-day performances only and must be purchased with cash. Spelling Bee tickets are on sale at the Post Street Theatre box office, by phone at 415-771-6900 and on the web at www.ticketmaster.com.  For more information visit www.spellingbeethemusical.com.