On Stage This Week - "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"

Saving the best for last, on Tuesday that Marshall Artists Series presents as its final show of the season the hilarious Broadway comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Oh, and it has nothing to do with West Virginia's Putnam County.

My pal Dave Lavender turns in a great story previewing the show, including a terrific story from another pal o' mine, Clint McElroy, who relates his hilarious experience when he saw the show on Broadway.

You can read the story right here. Here's an excerpt:

How does the Marshall Artists Series spell hilarious?

S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G B-E-E.

The Marshall Artists Series will be closing out its 72nd season with some song and dance, and some snorts and chuckles.

It's the nerd-and-word filled fun of the Tony Award-winning musical comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, to be performed live at 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, at the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center.

Tickets are $55, $50 and $45. Youth tickets are $27.50, $25 and $22.50.

To clear the confusion early on, let it be known that this musical is based in Putnam County, N.Y., and is not employing kid spellers from Cabell County's neighboring county of Putnam County, W.Va.

Run on Broadway from April 2005 to Jan. 20 2008, the musical captures the journey of six young spellers in the throes of puberty and overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves.

Along the way, the oft-quirky and heart-warming show teaches that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser.

You can read my review of the show I saw back in 2006 right here.

Oh, and I should mention that, despite appearances, it's not necessarily a show for kids - there are a few bad words in there. But if that doesn't bother you, it's a very funny show!

Highly recommended!