Presented at The Theater at Bamboo Grand Rapids: 2 Fulton St W, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Welcome to The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, a hilarious and heartwarming musical that became a Broadway sensation! At the center of this celebrated musical are six wonderfully different competitors.

Chip Tolentino is the former spelling champion determined to defend his title, even when an unexpected distraction threatens to derail his concentration. Logainne SchwartzandGrubenierre is a fiercely competitive overachiever desperate to make her demanding fathers proud. Leaf Coneybear is a lovable, eccentric homeschooler who is convinced he does not belong in the Bee, despite having a surprising talent for spelling.

Marigold Coneybear is an intense young competitor with a remarkable vocabulary and an even more remarkable competitive spirit. William Barfée is the Bee's self proclaimed spelling genius, armed with his famous Magic Foot technique and a personality that is impossible to forget. And then there is Olive Ostrovsky, a quiet and thoughtful girl whose dictionary has become her closest companion as she searches for confidence, connection, and her place in the world.

Keeping the Bee moving are Rona Lisa Peretti, a former champion who takes her job as moderator very seriously; Vice Principal Douglas Panch, whose return to the Bee brings plenty of questionable enthusiasm; and Mitch Mahoney, the reluctant comfort counselor tasked with helping the young spellers cope when their dreams of victory come crashing down.

As the competition gets amplified, these characters discover that the Bee is about much more than knowing how to spell an impossibly difficult word. It is about friendship, family, expectations, insecurity, individuality, and the courage to be yourself.

Come see why Broadway audiences fell in love with the Bee!