SF Bee to Close Sept.3

FINAL WEEKS! THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE TO CLOSE ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2006

The San Francisco production of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, will play its final performance on Sunday, September 3 at 7:00PM, having played 215 performances and 17 previews.

"We are all thrilled that Spelling Bee had such a successful run here in the Bay Area," said producer David Stone. "We could not have asked for a better reception, between the rave reviews from local critics and overwhelmingly positive response from audiences. We hope that future cities will be just as successful for the show." The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee premiered at the Post Street Theatre on March 1, 2006, receiving rave reviews from Bay Area audiences and critics alike. The San Francisco production marks the show's West Coast premiere and is the first sit-down company of Spelling Bee outside of New York City.

As described by press notes: "In The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, six quirky kids competing for the championship of their young life learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser." The show was conceived by Rebecca Feldman, features music and lyrics by Tony Award-winner William Finn (Falsettos, Elegies) and a Tony Award-winning book by Rachel Sheinkin, with additional material by Jay Reiss. The San Francisco production will be directed by James Lapine (Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods) the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winner who also directed the Broadway production.

On Sunday, June 4, the cast performed a special "Adult Night" performance, a hilarious evening of bawdy, irreverent adult humor that never made it into the standard script. Following an overwhelming response from the raucous audience, four additional adults-only performances have been scheduled: Tuesday, July 11 at 8:00PM; Sunday, July 23 at 7:00PM; Tuesday, August 8 at 8:00PM; and Sunday, August 20 at 7:00PM.  These performances contain adult language and situations. No one under 17 will be admitted.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is now playing at San Francisco's Post Street Theatre (450 Post St., 2nd floor) through Sunday, September 3, 2006. The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday through Friday at 8:00PM, Saturday at 2:00 & 8:00PM, and Sunday at 2:00 & 7:00PM.

Tickets range in price from $40–$66 A limited number of $25 rush tickets are available at the Post Street Theatre box office two hours prior to every performance. Tickets are for same-day performances only and must be purchased with cash.  Tickets for all remaining performances of Spelling Bee 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.