Fun 'Spelling Bee' musical taking to the stage in Onancock

A cast of local characters and professional actors will bring the musical comedy “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” to Onancock’s North Street Playhouse this week.

Following a cast of socially awkward adolescents, the musical tells the story of six youngsters as they vie for top honors in their regional spelling bee.

“Come prepared to laugh,” said Sara Stuart, who is co-directing the show with her daughter Mary Stiegelbauer.

Hitting Broadway in 2005, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” continues to play around the country, and for good reason, Stuart said.

Set in geographically ambiguous Putnam Valley Middle School, the play takes on a local flair at each stop around the country.

“You set it in your local area wherever you’re performing it, so there are quite a lot of inside jokes,” Stuart said.

Actors also select audience members to participate in the on-stage spelling bee each night, making each performance “a different one because there will be different audience members in the mix,” Stuart said.

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Michael Teats is providing musical direction for the show, which incorporates five professional actors from New York City with former North Street Playhouse interns.

Starting two summers ago with “Rent,” North Street’s internship program began bringing local students to work side-by-side with professional actors — a trend that continued last year with the production of “Young Frankenstein.”

“These kids are all interested in pursuing theater or the theater arts as a professional career,” she said. “The professionals become their mentors. … They learn, really, the ropes of how you to do this professionally and how it all works.”

“It all builds confidence,” she said.

The program, which will continue with North Street’s production of “Kiss Me Kate” this summer, laid the foundation for “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” she said.

“Not only are they holding their own (with the professional actors), but they are just fantastic as well,” Stuart said of the former interns who are returning to the stage.

“It’s been really rewarding,” she said of the program.

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” kicks off in Onancock this Thursday, March 8, at 8 p.m. Performances continue this Friday and Saturday, March 8 -10, at the same time and Sunday, March 11, at 2:30 p.m.

For the next weekend, the play shows at the same hours — Thursday through Saturday, March 15 -17, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 18, at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets cost $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $10 for students.

Visit www.northstreetplayhouse.org to purchase tickets online, call the playhouse at 757-787-2358 to make a reservation or visit the box office at 34 Market Street in Onancock.

Ticket will also be on sale at the door, though they often sell out, Stuart said.

Visit www.northstreetplayhouse.org/2017-summer-internship to learn more about North Street Playhouse’s summer internship program.

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