Scottsdale Desert Stages Theater to Present THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

Come spell with us! Opening on Thursday April 30th, 2015 and running through Sunday May 17th is the hilarious spelling musical that tests how smart are the Putnam kids. This teen production, featuring local actors ages 12-19, is directed by long-time children's director Lisa Barton. She brings forth a top-notch group of young actors for audiences to laugh, sing, and spell with!

This one-act musical, which began as an improvisational play by Rebecca Feldman, is the story of a local spelling bee out of Putnam Valley Middle School. Six silly, oddball teens, an ex-convict performing community service, a frustrated vice principal, and a former champion of the bee who grew up to become the "Number-One Realtor in Putnam County" and takes her job as moderator very, very seriously. With great musical numbers such as "I'm Not that Smart", "My Friend, My Dictionary", and "My Unfortunate Erection/Distraction", this fun and engaging musical will have audiences laughing all the way to the end.

A different aspect about this show then a normal musical is the use of audience participation. Before the show begins, audience members are given the opportunity to "sign up" to compete in the bee along side the 6 actors. In the past audience competitors have included Al Sharpton and Julie Andrews, who actually misspelled "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" when was a guest speller on KIDS night on Broadway in 2007.

Come join Rona Lisa Peretti, Mitch Mahoney, Olive Ostrovsky, and the rest of the gang at Scottsdale Desert Stages Theater located at 4720 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 on Thursday and Sunday evenings at 7pm and Saturdays at 2pm through May 17th. For tickets call the box office at 480-483-1664 or visit www.desertstages.org.