PhotosPhotos: Get a 1st Look at Bonnie Milligan, Noah Galvin, Beanie Feldstein, More in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
The star-studded production continues at the Kennedy Center through October 20.
By
Molly Higgins, Logan Culwell-Block
October 14, 2024
Kennedy Center's starry revival of William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin's The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee began at the D.C. venue October 11, and the first production photos are in. Performances will continue in the Eisenhower Theater through October 20, part of the company's Broadway Center Stage Series.
The musical, which premiered on Broadway in 2005 after an Off-Broadway run, features a Tony-winning book by Sheinkin (adapted from a play by Rebecca Feldman) and music and lyrics by two-time Tony winner Finn. The work is set at a fictional middle school spelling bee, where a lovable band of misfits—plus a few lucky audience members—assemble to duke it out on their knowledge of word spellings and languages of origin. The show was a Best Musical nominee at the 2005 Tony Awards, winning for Sheinkin's book and original cast member Dan Fogler's featured performance.
Danny Mefford (Kimberly Akimbo) is directing and choreographing, with Roberto Sinha serving as music director. The production features scenic design by Paul Tate dePoo III, costume design by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by David Weiner, and sound design by Haley Parcher. Matthew Lacey serves as production stage manager.
Lupita Nyong'o, Katrina Lenk, Jelani Alladin, and more were on hand to celebrate the October 31 opening night of Michael R. Jackson and Anna K. Jacobs' new musical.