THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is headed to Denver

Equinox Theatre Company presents the first show of its eighth season. "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" will perform February 5 through 27, 2016 with shows Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 PM. There will also be a pay-what-you-can industry night on Thursday, February 25, 2016. Tickets are $20 in advance/$25 at the door/$17 for groups of 6 or more in advance only. All performances will be at The Bug Theatre at 3654 Navajo Street in Denver. Tickets and more information available online at www.EquinoxTheatreDenver.com

Winner of the TONY and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" is about an eclectic group of six mid-pubescents who vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home life, the tweens spell their way through a series of [potentially made-up] words hoping to never hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming "ding" of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves! At least the losers get a juice box.

"This show has always been one of my favorites. Much like 'A Chorus Line,' it delves into the intimate, and sometimes heartbreaking stories of the spelling bee contestants and offers a look behind the quirky facades of the 11-year-old characters," offers Colin Roybal, Director and Co-Executive Producer for Equinox Theatre Company. "It's mesmerizing because of the balance of silly shenanigans during a spelling bee and the true connection to each of the child contestants. You really start to feel deeply for each of the kids, and I find myself rooting along for each of them to win because of their particular circumstances. You can enjoy it for both its bright, comical music, and for its sympathetic plucking of the heartstrings. You also certainly will walk away humming a tune or two.

"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" features the talents of Andrew Alber as Leaf Coneybear, Tiffany Sieu as Marcy Park, Emma Maxfield as Olive Ostrovsky, Katherine Foote as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, Dale Schuett as William Morris Barfee, Kalond Irlanda as Chip Tolentino, Mike Moran as Vice Principal Panch, Adam Kinney as Mitch Mahoney and Jen Morris as Rona Lisa Peretti.

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