Spelling Bee Musical: Development & Performances

• Spelling Bee was conceived by Rebecca Feldman, with music/lyrics by William Finn and a book by Rachel Sheinkin.
• The show began development at the Barrington Stage Company of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in two stages, starting with a workshop in February 2004.
• In July 2004, the script was fleshed out, and a fuller production was directed by Feldman and Michael Unger with choreography by Dan Knechtges.
• The musical then moved Off-Broadway to the Second Stage Theatre, directed by James Lapine, with choreography by Dan Knechtges.
• Spelling Bee opened for previews on January 11, 2005, and officially on February 7, 2005.
• The Off-Broadway stint concluded on March 20, 2005, after receiving positive reviews and breaking box office records.
• On April 15, 2005, Spelling Bee transferred to Broadway at the Circle in the Square Theatre.
• The Broadway show closed on January 20, 2008, after 1,136 performances.
• Since closing on Broadway Spelling Bee has had two national tours, numerous international and regional productions.
• The musical is set in a high school gym where Rona Lisa Peretti prepares for the annual county spelling bee.
• The spelling bee contestants include Chip, Schwarzy, Coneybear, Barfee, Marcy, and Olive.
• Olive has not paid her $25 entrance fee.
• Vice Principal Douglas Panch is a last-minute substitute word pronouncer.
• Mitch Mahoney serves as "Comfort Counselor" as part of his community service.
• The contest begins with Rona providing background information about each speller.
• Coneybear appears to enter abrupt trances during which he spells perfectly.
• Olive's main source of companionship during her lonely childhood was a dictionary.
• Audience volunteers are called upon to participate, and are eliminated if they answer incorrectly.
• Barfee uses a "magic foot" technique to spell his words.
• Marcy placed high in the ranking for last year’s national spelling bee.
• The contest progresses with words varying in difficulty.
• Schwarzy is drilled for the contest by her two dads.
• Coneybear is asked to spell a word related to South American rodents for the second consecutive time.
• Chip gets distracted by Coneybear's sister and is eliminated.
• Mitch escorts Chip from the stage.
• The final audience volunteer is eliminated when asked to spell a difficult word.
• Chip distributes candy during a snack break and bickers with Barfee before being ejected.
• Olive comforts Barfee.
• Schwarzy reflects on the pressure placed on her by her dads.
• Coneybear is eliminated when he spells "chinchilla" incorrectly.
• Marcy speaks six languages but is tired of always being thought of as superior.
• Jesus Christ appears to Marcy and tells her that he doesn’t care who wins.
• Marcy deliberately misspells her word and is eliminated.
• Only Schwarzy, Olive, and Barfee remain.
• Schwarzy makes a political statement at the microphone.
• One of Schwarzy’s dads attempts to sabotage Barfee, but fails.
• Barfee spells "crepuscule" correctly.
• Olive receives the word "chimerical," which prompts her to fantasize about her parents.
• Schwarzy is eliminated.
• Olive misspells a word, and Barfee hesitates before claiming victory.
• Olive reassures him, and he claims the victory.
• Panch invents a $25 prize for Olive and produces the money out of his own pocket.
• The epilogues reveal the future fates of the characters and how the spelling bee shaped their lives.

Overview of the development and performance history of 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' musical. Beginning with workshops in Massachusetts, its Off-Broadway run, and transfer to Broadway. Includes details about its Broadway closure and subsequent national tours.