Photo Flash: Ali Stroker in Cleveland Playhouse's THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

BroadwayWorld has a first look at Cleveland Play House's high-spirited, interactive musical comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

Broadway and TV actress Ali Stroker (Glee, Deaf West's Production of Spring Awakening) joins Broadway veterans Kirsten Wyatt (Annie, Elf, Shrek), John Scherer (Sunset Boulevard, By Jeeves, Funny Girl), Lee Slobotkin, Chad Burris(both of Book of Mormon), Kay Trinidad Karns (Little Mermaid), and more in this laugh-out-loud musical directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge on the Allen Stage through May 6th.

The musical's storyline focuses on six middle-school misfits who are thrown into a cutthroat, high-stakes competition and P-A-N-D-E-M-O-N-I-U-M takes first place. Welcome to The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, where eccentric adolescents (all played by adults!) get their chance to shine as they vie to prove they are worthy of a shot at "Nationals." A touching and cheeky coming-of-age comedy with a vivacious, improvised spelling bee, this Tony Award-winning musical is a treat for all ages. In a unique twist, four audience members are invited on stage to compete in the spelling bee alongside the six characters every night, including some special VIP guest spellers.

Spelling Bee premiered on Broadway at the Circle in the Square Theatre in 2005 and closed in 2008, after over 1,100 performances. The show won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical (Rachel Sheinkin) in 2005, and will win the heart of Cleveland audiences as it premieres on the CPH stage.

For tickets and more visit http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com/

Photos by Roger Mastroianni