Review: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Posted by Curtain Up! on Oct 28, 2025

S-T-U-P-E-N-D-O-U-S

That’s the spelling word that best captures this production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which arrives in Parker as part of the Parker Arts season with enough energy to illuminate The Schoolhouse auditorium. Produced in partnership with Sasquatch Productions and directed by local favorite and prolific powerhouse Tanner Kelly, this high-energy creation bursts with enthusiasm, wit, and a cast that spells joy with every scene. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a first-time visitor to the Bee, this staging makes Putnam County feel like it’s just down the road.

Conceived by Rebecca Feldman as an improvisational piece developed with the New York-based troupe The Farm, the show retains its spontaneous spirit and character-driven charm. William Finn’s music and lyrics add melodic mischief and emotional texture. At the same time, Rachel Sheinkin’s book sharpens the humor and deepens the heart, giving each speller their own moment in the spotlight. Together, their work lays the foundation for a production that’s as smart as it is spirited.

Six eclectic contestants, along with a hilarious dash of audience participation, take the stage in Spelling Bee: each armed with a unique approach to language and life. William Barfée (Cooper Kaminsky), Olive Ostrovsky (Sarah Holmes), Chip Tolentino (Andrew Hensel), Logainne Schwartzy (Chloé Barnes), Leaf Coneybear (Sean Davis), and Marcy Park (Olivia Kisicki) navigate the pressures of competition, adolescence, and identity as they spell their way toward the trophy. Overseeing the Bee are Rona Lisa Peretti (Nicole Cherecwich) and Vice Principal Douglas Panch (Taylor Speer), with Mitch Mahoney (Mosés Brown) serving as the court-appointed comfort counselor. Each performer brings their character into sharp, affectionate focus, spelling out a production that’s as heartfelt as it is hilarious.

Cherecwich as Rona Lisa Peretti brings crisp authority and radiant charm to her role as the Bee’s reigning queen, anchoring the chaos with pageant-worthy poise. Speer’s Vice Principal Douglas Panch is a masterclass in comedic restraint, delivering definitions with a deadpan edge and just the right flicker of instability. Kaminsky gives William Barfée—who insists on the accent aigu— and relies on his “magic foot” to spell his way through the competition, a wonderfully specific physicality and a confidence that hilariously teeters between bravado and vulnerability. As Olive Ostrovsky, Holmes offers a performance full of quiet ache and openhearted sincerity, grounding the show’s emotional core. Hensel’s Chip Tolentino is all earnest energy and hormonal havoc, finding puberty a formidable opponent, hitting his comic beats with precision. And Brown, as Mitch Mahoney, balances gruffness and grace, lending his scenes a surprising emotional weight. Together, along with the others, they form a spelling bee that’s equal parts comedy, catharsis, and character study.

The musical numbers in Spelling Bee range from introspective ballads to gleeful ensemble chaos, each one deepening character while dialing up the comedy. “The ‘I Love You’ Song” offers a glimpse into Olive’s inner world, while “Magic Foot” turns Barfée’s spelling strategy into a showstopper of swagger and choreography. One of the show’s most infamous—and side-splitting—numbers arrives courtesy of Chip Tolentino, whose championship hopes are derailed by an untimely hormonal surge. In “My Unfortunate Erection (Chip’s Lament),” Hensel leans into the physical comedy and vocal bravado with gusto, turning adolescent embarrassment into a full-throttle musical meltdown.

Tanner Kelly wears three hats in this production—director, musical director, and sound designer—and each one fits with precision. His direction keeps the pacing crisp and the comedy buoyant, guiding the cast through chaos with clarity and care. As musical director, Kelly ensures that every number lands with emotional and musical resonance, drawing out character through melody and ensemble through rhythm. His sound design subtly supports the storytelling, balancing mic cues and musical underscoring to create a world that feels both intimate and theatrical. The result is a production that hums with cohesion—every laugh, lyric, and line tuned to Kelly’s thoughtful touch.

Timmy Pamintuan’s choreography adds playful precision and bursts of energy to the Bee, keeping the cast in constant, character-driven motion.

The onstage orchestra provides crisp, well-paced support throughout the show, with Trent Hines on piano and conducting duties, Gretchen Stulock on cello, Matt Burchard on reeds, and Christina Smith on drums. Their presence onstage adds energy and immediacy to each number, underscoring the action with a sound that’s both tight and characterful.

August Stoten’s set design grounds the show in a playful, lived-in gymnasium, while Jennifer Middleton’s costumes highlight each character’s quirks with smart, expressive detail. Brett Maughan’s lighting shifts seamlessly between bright competition and intimate moments, tying the world together with clarity and flair. Together, their work creates a cohesive world that’s playful, expressive, and perfectly in tune with the Bee‘s rhythms.

Parker Arts presents The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee in partnership with Sasquatch Productions and under the deft direction of Tanner Kelly. With a stellar cast, audience participation, and a creative team that brings heart, humor, and harmony to every scene, the Bee buzzes with energy, wit, and unforgettable characters. S-T-U-P-E-N-D-O-U-S, definition: two delightful hours at the Schoolhouse, right next door in Parker, playing through November 16.

Information and tickets: https://parkerarts.org/event/the-25th-annual-putnam-county-spelling-bee/

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