AUDITION INFORMATIONPLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE DOCUMENT CAREFULLY There is a significant amount of important information below. ELIGIBILITY Open to anyone who has graduated high school and older FEES AND PAYMENT INFORMATION Production TuitionTotal Tuition: $150 Additional Required Fees $20 Script. Actors must provide their own binder. Each cast member is responsible for providing their own costume. All costumes must be approved by the director. By submitting this form, you confirm that you have read, understand, and agree to all financial responsibilities, policies, and expectations listed above and below. AUDITIONS Date: May 18, 2026 and May 19, 2026 Time: 5:30 - 9:00 | 5:30 - 7:00 After submitting this form, you will receive an email with a link to select your audition time. CALL BACKS Date: May 31, 2026 Time: 5:00 - 8:00 Callback lists will be posted on our website. Video Auditions If you need to audition by video, please indicate on your audition form. Deadline: May 19, 2026 by 7:00 p.m. CONTENT DISCLAIMER The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee contains adult themes and mature content. By registering, you acknowledge and accept these themes as part of the production. REHEARSALS Location: Street of Dreams Theatre and possibly other local locations See below for dates and times BAND App for Updates: https://band.us/n/a7a5b7Ycw4Y3j IMPORTANT POLICIES Outstanding Balances All past due balances must be paid before an audition time can be scheduled. Ticket Sales Requirement Each cast member must sell a minimum of 20 tickets. Any shortfall will be charged to your account. PERFORMANCES Saturday, August 1, 2026 2:00 (tentative depending on ticket sales) Saturday, August 1, 2026 6:30 pm Sunday, August 2, 2026 2:00 pm Location: Street of Dreams Dance Studio, Avenue A Mandatory set strike will follow the last performance. |
HOW DO I AUDITION?
We are so happy you are interested in auditioning for our production and cannot wait to see you! Please note that while we wish we could cast everyone, not all who audition may be cast in this particular show. We encourage you to give your best effort and enjoy the audition process.
1) Please read the full synopsis at the bottom of the page to become familiar with the story and overall themes of the show.
2) Complete the registration form in its entirety. Once submitted, you will receive an email with a link to sign up for an audition time slot, as well as access to the rehearsal and audition tracks.
3) Select one or two characters you would like to audition for. Please review the character breakdown at the bottom of this page to help guide your selection.
4) Learn a side for the character(s) you wish to audition for by clicking the “Audition Side” button below.
5) Prepare the vocal selection for your chosen character using the “Audition Music” button and provided tracks.
Please be sure to complete both the registration form and the audition time slot sign-up in order to be fully scheduled. We look forward to seeing you at auditions.
If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
1) Please read the full synopsis at the bottom of the page to become familiar with the story and overall themes of the show.
2) Complete the registration form in its entirety. Once submitted, you will receive an email with a link to sign up for an audition time slot, as well as access to the rehearsal and audition tracks.
3) Select one or two characters you would like to audition for. Please review the character breakdown at the bottom of this page to help guide your selection.
4) Learn a side for the character(s) you wish to audition for by clicking the “Audition Side” button below.
5) Prepare the vocal selection for your chosen character using the “Audition Music” button and provided tracks.
Please be sure to complete both the registration form and the audition time slot sign-up in order to be fully scheduled. We look forward to seeing you at auditions.
If you have any questions, please email [email protected].
OTHER IMPORTANT LINKS
Rehearsal Information |
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Rehearsals Rehearsals will be held at Street of Dreams Dance Studio Saturday, June 6, 2026 | 3:00-6:00 p.m. (Avenue D) Monday, June 22, 2026 | 6:00–9:30 p.m. (Avenue A) Tuesday, June 23, 2026 | 6:00-9:30 p.m. (Avenue A) Monday, June 29, 2026 | 6:00-9:30 p.m. (Avenue A) Tuesday, June 30, 2026 | 6:00-9:30 p.m. (Avenue A) Wednesday, July 1, 2026 | 6:00-9:30 p.m. (Avenue A) Thursday, July 2, 2026 | 6:30-9:00 p.m. (Avenue A) Sunday, July 5, 2026 | 5:00-8:00 p.m. (Avenue A) - TENTATIVE Thursday, July 9, 2026 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. (Avenue B) Saturday, July 11, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Avenue A) Sunday, July 12, 2026 | 5:00-8:00 p.m. (Avenue A) Thursday, July 16, 2026 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. (Avenue B) Sunday, July 19, 2026 | 5:00-8:00 p.m. (Avenue A) Sunday, July 26, 2026 | 6:00-9:00 p.m. (Avenue D) Thursday, July 30, 2026 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. (Avenue B) Friday, July 31, 2026 | 5:00-10:00 p.m. (Avenue A) DRESS REHEARSAL PERFORMANCES Saturday, August 1, 2026 2:00 p.m. (TENTATIVE) and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, August 2, 2026 2:00 p.m. Street of Dreams Dance Studio |
Join the Band App!
We communicate almost exclusively through the Band App. We ask everyone involved with the production to sign up and check the app regularly for important information.
https://band.us/n/a7a5b7Ycw4Y3j
SYNOPSIS
In a high school gym, long time hostess, Rona Lisa Peretti, finalizes the preparations for the annual county spelling bee, reminiscing about her own spelling bee victory, many years prior. The current crop of spelling contenders arrives ("The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"). The contestants include last year's champ, Chip (a boy scout), Schwarzy (the youngest and most politically aware contestant), Coneybear (the somewhat wide-eyed offspring of hippie parents), Barfee (an allergy-plagued student), Marcy (an over-achieving Asian-American) and Olive (a tentative newcomer).
Rona also calls on four volunteers from the audience to join the competition (these are real audience members who have been selected through an interview process before the show).
It is revealed that Olive has failed to pay her $25 entrance fee, but Rona assures her that it will be worked out later. Barfee rudely fends off Olive's attempts to befriend him. Rona introduces Vice Principal Douglas Panch, a last-minute substitute word pronouncer, and Mitch Mahoney, a menacing ex-con who is serving as "Comfort Counselor" as a part of his community service sentence. Panch, Rona and the spellers review the contest's elimination-style rules ("The Rules").
The contest begins. As the students are individually called upon, Rona provides color commentary, revealing background info about each of them. A flashback reveals that Coneybear only made in into this contest because his school's winner and first runner-up were unable to attend due to a Bar Mitzvah. He appears to have no hope of spelling words correctly, but snaps into abrupt trances, during which he performs perfectly.
Olive reflects on a lonely childhood, where her main source of companionship (and spelling excellence) was a dictionary ("My Friend the Dictionary"). The audience volunteers are also called upon to participate. Volunteers who answer incorrectly are eliminated ("Goodbye #1"). Barfee uses a bizarre "magic foot" technique to spell his words.
Rona reveals that Marcy placed high in the ranking for last year's national spelling bee, impressing all of the contestants. One of the audience volunteers is asked to spell "cow," prompting outrage from the contestants. The contest swings into high gear ("Pandemonium") as Panch requests spellings for words that vary enormously in their level of difficulty.
A flashback reveals Schwarzy, drilling for the contest with her two overbearing gay dads. Coneybear, for the second consecutive time, is asked to spell a word related to South American rodents. He confesses that his family does not consider him to be particularly intelligent ("I'm Not That Smart").
Barfee calls upon his magic foot technique to help him spell the word, "hasenpfeffer" ("Magic Foot"). By this point in the contest, all but one of the audience volunteers have probably been eliminated. Chip is eliminated after getting distracted by seeing Coneybear's attractive sister, Marigold, in the audience ("Pandemonium – Reprise"). Mitch escorts him from the stage ("Chip Goodbye").
Rona is excited by the unexpected early elimination of last year's champ ("Rona Moment #2").
The final audience volunteer is eliminated when asked to spell a ridiculously difficult word. Mitch consoles the loser ("Prayer of the Comfort Counselor").
During a snack break, Chip distributes free candy to the audience and laments the fact that his sexual arousal cost him a victory in the spelling bee ("My Unfortunate Erection"). Chip bickers with Barfee and terrorizes him with a packet of peanut M&Ms before being ejected. Olive comforts Barfee.
As the break ends and the bee resumes, Schwarzy reflects on the tremendous pressure placed on her by her dads ("Woe Is Me"). A lighting-fast blaze of spelling ensues, and Coneybear is eliminated when he fails to spell chinchilla correctly ("I'm Not That Smart – Reprise").
Rona reveals that Marcy speaks six languages. Marcy is exasperated at always being thought of as superior in every way ("I Speak Six Languages"). She is asked to spell the word, "camouflage," whereupon she rhetorically exclaims "Dear Jesus, can't you come up with a harder word than that?" Much to her astonishment, Jesus Christ immediately appears and reveals that He doesn't care who wins this contest. Marcy, relieved, deliberately misspells her word, joyfully eliminating herself.
Only Schwarzy, Olive and Barfee remain. Olive receives a phone call from her dad. Taking advantage of the pause, Schwarzy seizes the microphone and makes a political statement. One of Schwarzy's dads attempts to sabotage Barfee by pouring a can of Coke onto the stage, hoping the stickiness will immobilize Barfee's magic foot. It is implied that Olive's father is unwilling to pay her $25 entrance fee.
Olive is given the word "chimerical," which means "wildly fanciful and highly unrealistic." This prompts her to fantasize about her neglectful parents ("The I Love You Song").
Barfee's magic foot is foiled by the spilled Coke, but he manages to spell "crepuscule" correctly anyway. Schwarzy is eliminated ("Woe is Me – Reprise"). Only two spellers remain, and Rona is breathless with excitement ("Rona Moment #3").
After a volley of correctly spelled words, Olive misspells a word ("Second, Part One") and Barfee hesitates before claiming victory, sensitive to Olive's feelings. Olive reassures him, and he claims the victory. Panch, taking pity on Olive, invents a $25 prize for "runner up," which he produces out of his own pocket to cover Olive's entrance fee. Rona is moved by Panch's kind gesture. Olive and Barfee warmly congratulate each other.
A series of epilogues reveal the future fates of the characters and explains how their experiences during the spelling bee shaped each of their lives ("Finale").
Rona also calls on four volunteers from the audience to join the competition (these are real audience members who have been selected through an interview process before the show).
It is revealed that Olive has failed to pay her $25 entrance fee, but Rona assures her that it will be worked out later. Barfee rudely fends off Olive's attempts to befriend him. Rona introduces Vice Principal Douglas Panch, a last-minute substitute word pronouncer, and Mitch Mahoney, a menacing ex-con who is serving as "Comfort Counselor" as a part of his community service sentence. Panch, Rona and the spellers review the contest's elimination-style rules ("The Rules").
The contest begins. As the students are individually called upon, Rona provides color commentary, revealing background info about each of them. A flashback reveals that Coneybear only made in into this contest because his school's winner and first runner-up were unable to attend due to a Bar Mitzvah. He appears to have no hope of spelling words correctly, but snaps into abrupt trances, during which he performs perfectly.
Olive reflects on a lonely childhood, where her main source of companionship (and spelling excellence) was a dictionary ("My Friend the Dictionary"). The audience volunteers are also called upon to participate. Volunteers who answer incorrectly are eliminated ("Goodbye #1"). Barfee uses a bizarre "magic foot" technique to spell his words.
Rona reveals that Marcy placed high in the ranking for last year's national spelling bee, impressing all of the contestants. One of the audience volunteers is asked to spell "cow," prompting outrage from the contestants. The contest swings into high gear ("Pandemonium") as Panch requests spellings for words that vary enormously in their level of difficulty.
A flashback reveals Schwarzy, drilling for the contest with her two overbearing gay dads. Coneybear, for the second consecutive time, is asked to spell a word related to South American rodents. He confesses that his family does not consider him to be particularly intelligent ("I'm Not That Smart").
Barfee calls upon his magic foot technique to help him spell the word, "hasenpfeffer" ("Magic Foot"). By this point in the contest, all but one of the audience volunteers have probably been eliminated. Chip is eliminated after getting distracted by seeing Coneybear's attractive sister, Marigold, in the audience ("Pandemonium – Reprise"). Mitch escorts him from the stage ("Chip Goodbye").
Rona is excited by the unexpected early elimination of last year's champ ("Rona Moment #2").
The final audience volunteer is eliminated when asked to spell a ridiculously difficult word. Mitch consoles the loser ("Prayer of the Comfort Counselor").
During a snack break, Chip distributes free candy to the audience and laments the fact that his sexual arousal cost him a victory in the spelling bee ("My Unfortunate Erection"). Chip bickers with Barfee and terrorizes him with a packet of peanut M&Ms before being ejected. Olive comforts Barfee.
As the break ends and the bee resumes, Schwarzy reflects on the tremendous pressure placed on her by her dads ("Woe Is Me"). A lighting-fast blaze of spelling ensues, and Coneybear is eliminated when he fails to spell chinchilla correctly ("I'm Not That Smart – Reprise").
Rona reveals that Marcy speaks six languages. Marcy is exasperated at always being thought of as superior in every way ("I Speak Six Languages"). She is asked to spell the word, "camouflage," whereupon she rhetorically exclaims "Dear Jesus, can't you come up with a harder word than that?" Much to her astonishment, Jesus Christ immediately appears and reveals that He doesn't care who wins this contest. Marcy, relieved, deliberately misspells her word, joyfully eliminating herself.
Only Schwarzy, Olive and Barfee remain. Olive receives a phone call from her dad. Taking advantage of the pause, Schwarzy seizes the microphone and makes a political statement. One of Schwarzy's dads attempts to sabotage Barfee by pouring a can of Coke onto the stage, hoping the stickiness will immobilize Barfee's magic foot. It is implied that Olive's father is unwilling to pay her $25 entrance fee.
Olive is given the word "chimerical," which means "wildly fanciful and highly unrealistic." This prompts her to fantasize about her neglectful parents ("The I Love You Song").
Barfee's magic foot is foiled by the spilled Coke, but he manages to spell "crepuscule" correctly anyway. Schwarzy is eliminated ("Woe is Me – Reprise"). Only two spellers remain, and Rona is breathless with excitement ("Rona Moment #3").
After a volley of correctly spelled words, Olive misspells a word ("Second, Part One") and Barfee hesitates before claiming victory, sensitive to Olive's feelings. Olive reassures him, and he claims the victory. Panch, taking pity on Olive, invents a $25 prize for "runner up," which he produces out of his own pocket to cover Olive's entrance fee. Rona is moved by Panch's kind gesture. Olive and Barfee warmly congratulate each other.
A series of epilogues reveal the future fates of the characters and explains how their experiences during the spelling bee shaped each of their lives ("Finale").