‘THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE’: Kevin McHale (center) & cast. Photo: Joan Marcus.

THE 25^TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Music & lyrics by William Finn
Book by Rachel Sheinkin
Conceived by Rebecca Feldman
Music supervision & vocal arrangements by Carmel Dean
Originally directed on Broadway by James Lapine
Directed & choreographed by Danny Mefford
Through September 6, 2026
New World Stages
340 West 50^th Street
https://spellingbeenyc.com/

By Scott Harrah

Two decades after it first appeared on Broadway, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is back. This Off‑Broadway revival feels both nostalgic and fresh. Spelling Bee was originally nominated for six Tony Awards and winner of two, including Best Book of a Musical for Rachel Sheinkin and Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Dan Fogler. The show also helped launch the careers of Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Josh Gad. Now, with an updated script and a marvelous cast, this beloved show proves why it has remained such an enduring hit.

The story of Spelling Bee

At its core, Spelling Bee is a musical comedy about six offbeat middle-school students competing in a regional spelling bee. Set inside a school gymnasium, the competition is a forum for the kids to show off their spelling skills and vent about their personal insecurities, hope and dreams. They share the stage with Vice Principal Douglas Panch (Jason Kravits), the weary “pronouncer” of the competition. Other characters include moderator and former champion Rona Lisa Peretti (Lilli Cooper); and overprotective parents who hover on the sidelines.

The competitors

Meanwhile, the characters and their many quirks quickly overshadow the actual spelling. Each contestant delivers a humorous monologue before attempting a word.

For example, there’s Olive Ostrovsky (Jasmine Amy Rogers), a nervous speller who’s upset because her mother is in India at an ashram, her father is running late to the event and she doesn’t have the $25 entrance fee.

William Barfée (Kevin McHale) is a cocky guy with many physical ailments who uses his “magic foot” technique to help him spell out words.

Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre (Autumn Best) is a spunky speller with a lisp who cannot spell a word without her two fathers standing by her on the podium to encourage her.

The remaining contestants include Chip Tolentino (Phillipe Arroyo), a former champion and Boy Scout facing the awkward (and sometimes funny) realities of puberty; Leaf Coneybear (Justin Cooley), an unfocused speller with ADHD; and Marcy Park (Leana Rae Concepcion), a hyper‑accomplished overachiever who speaks six languages, practices karate, and sleeps just three hours a night.

Adding to the fun, several audience volunteers are selected at random to compete alongside the actors, creating spontaneous moments each night.

Winning ensemble cast

Spelling Bee relies on a cohesive company of the six spelling contestants. All of the six actors form a winning ensemble, thanks to tight direction and choreography by Danny Mefford.

First, Jasmine Amy Rogers is an emotional powerhouse as Olive, the anxious girl who is devastated that her parents are not attending the competition. Her delivery and timing are top notch. Her vocals in the solo numbers “My Friend, the Dictionary” and “The I Love You Song” are heartwarming highlights.

Next, Kevin McHale (of “Glee” fame) is perfect as William, the overzealous nerd. Mr. McHale is superb singing his solo “Magic Foot” and sometimes steals the show with his many outbursts and nervous tics.

Additionally, Justin Cooley’s quirky, trance‑like Leaf is consistently hilarious, while Phillipe Arroyo earns big laughs as Chip in “My Unfortunate Erection (Chip’s Lament).”

In addition, two of the other young actresses in the show are also crowd pleasers. Leana Rae Concepcion is hysterical as Marcy, the annoying overachiever, and she sings “I Speak Six Languages” with conviction. Autumn Best is charming as Logainne, the know-it-all girl with a speech impediment and a problem with low blood sugar.

Among the adults, Lilli Cooper shines as the spunky, high-spirited Rona. Jason Kravits brings charm and perfectly calibrated frustration to Vice Principal Douglas Panch.

A Spelling Bee for the 2020s

Although much of the original 2005 show remains intact, the script includes contemporary updates. For instance, Logainne references “hot” mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani. Also, the epilogue humorously notes her later role in “President AOC’s administration.” Together, these touches keep the show grounded in present-day America without sacrificing its timeless appeal.

Ultimately, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee celebrates underdogs navigating competition, identity, and the pressure to succeed—all themes as resonant now as they were two decades ago. This joyous revival is sure to be a big h‑i‑t.

Published November 17, 2025
Reviewed at press performance on November 14, 2025

‘THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE’: (left to right from top) Philippe Arroyo & Leana Rae Concepcion; (left to right from bottom) Autumn Best & Justin Cooley. Photos: Joan Marcus.

‘THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE’: The cast. Photo: Joan Marcus.

‘THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE’: Jason Kravits & Lilli Cooper. Photo: Joan Marcus.

‘THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE’: Matt Manuel, Autumn Best & Justin Cooley. Photo: Joan Marcus.

‘THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE’: Matt Manuel & Philippe Arroyo. Photo: Joan Marcus.

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‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’: Victoria Clark & Justin Cooley. Photo: Joan Marcus.

KIMBERLY AKIMBO
Book & lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire
Music by Jeanine Tesori
Directed by Jessica Stone
Booth Theatre
222 West 45th Street.
(212-239-6200), www.KimberlyAkimboTheMusical.com

By David NouNou

I had no idea that Kimberly Akimbo the musical was originally a 2001 play of the same name. I only knew the musical opened in 2021 Off-Broadway and was a huge success—and has now transferred to Broadway. As I was watching the show, I was mesmerized by David Lindsay-Abaire’s book and how compelling the storyline was, and thinking to myself of how the score was getting in the way of the script. When a book is so strong, the score becomes superfluous. I realize now that, in modern-day musicals, the score doesn’t propel the storyline forward as in yesteryear’s musicals, but the score now describes the characters and who and what they are. It’s the characters words with the music twisted around them that forms the score. This often makes most 21^st century scores unmemorable.

Back to the script, set in New Jersey in 1999.  It’s about a lonely 16-year-old high school girl, Kim (Victoria Clark) who suffers from a condition that causes her to age four times faster, which makes her look like 64. She is befriended by an anagram genius, Seth (Justin Cooley) who wants to work with Kimberly on the science project about her condition so that they can present to the class together.

There are also other teenagers that are fraught with their teenage angst and who wants to work with whom on various school projects. They are presented as real normal kids with their frailties but trying to figure things out for themselves. It’s the adults that are horrid with their repellent behaviors and attitudes.

Kim’s father, Buddy (Steven Boyer), is an alcoholic who is mostly repelled by her, and her mother, Patti (Alli Mauzey) is pregnant again, and hopes the second child doesn’t turn out like Kim, so she gets pregnant by a neighbor. Add to the mix, Patti’s sister, Aunt Debra (Bonnie Mulligan), who is a con artist and a convicted felon. Her aunt is ultimately Kimberly’s friend and helps Kim follow her dreams and her right to enjoy her life despite her handicap.

If you’ve seen Mr. Lindsay-Abaire’s Rabbit Hole and Good People, you have an idea of what a genius he is with words and setting up a play and Kimberly Akimbo is no exception. There are so many layers to this beautifully textured show, it has to be seen and relished. His handling of Kim and Seth is both beautiful and touching. It is nothing like the perverse Harold and Maude. That’s thanks in large part to Victoria Clark.

Although a veteran of many Broadway shows, with the part of Kim, this establishes Victoria Clark as a contender in the theatre. Her dazzling performance is sublime. You can see her as 16 when she is giddily happy and 64 when she is down. Don’t ever count her out because she makes Kimberly a winner all the way because she lives on hope.

Her counterpart, Seth (Justin Cooley), making an impressionable Broadway debut is so charming and uplifting; there is nothing creepy about their relationship but genuine love of two lost teenage souls who see each other’s beauty.

Just as she stole the show in the ill-fated, short-lived musical Head Over Heels, once you get to know Debra, you’ve got to love Bonnie Milligan. Her quirkiness makes her lovable and you forgive her inequities.

The tough pills to swallow are Buddy and Patti—not the fault of Steven Boyer and Alli Mauzey, both of whom give their all. As characters, they are just vile.

Director Jessica Stone brings sensibility to all the proceedings, especially when dealing with the teenagers, but her main focus always centers around Kim and Seth and Aunt Debra. From a personal observation, at our performance there were a lot of older teenagers who were really into the show, and it is always a thrill to see younger audiences being absorbed by what’s going on stage and not what’s on their smartphones. Kudos to all the teenagers who will discover Kimberly Akimbo when they come and see the show.

Edited by Scott Harrah
Published November 16, 2022
Reviewed at November 15, 2022 press performance.

‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’ (left to right): Michael Iskander, Justin Cooley, Victoria Clark, Nina White, Olivia Hardy & Fernell Hogan. Photo: Joan Marcus.

‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’ (left to right): Nina White, Michael Iskander, Fernell Hogan & Olivia Hardy. Photo: Joan Marcus.

‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’ (left to right): Victoria Clark, Justin Cooley & Steven Boyer. Photo: Joan Marcus.

‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’: Victoria Clark & Justin Cooley. Photo: Joan Marcus.

‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’: (left to right): Victoria Clark, Justin Cooley, Michael Iskander, Olivia Hardy, Nina White & Fernell Hogan.

‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’: The cast. Photo: Joan Marcus.

‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’: (left to right): Alli Mauzey, Victoria Clark & Steven Boyer. Photo: Joan Marcus.

‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’: Victoria Clark & Alli Mauzey. Photo: Joan Marcus.

‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’: Alli Mauzey. Photo: Joan Marcus.

‘KIMBERLY AKIMBO’: Bonnie Milligan. Photo: Joan Marcus.

The post ‘Kimberly Akimbo’: Broadway transfer is a hit appeared first on StageZine.