East Chapel Hill High To Present Musical “The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee”

Chapel Hill, NC – East Chapel Hill High School’s Performing Arts Department will present The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee, Thursday through Saturday, November 15-17, 2018.

This musical tale of several socially awkward middle schoolers finding joy, heartache and a purpose in competing at the regional spelling bee features a Tony Award winning score by William Finn (of Falsettos fame) and book by Rachel Sheinkin. Spellers are played by Josh Facello, Lily Fowler, Joe Davis, Richard Yuan, Bella Lambert and Sophie Cronin, as well as four “to be announced” audience members every evening.

This exciting audience participation component was an innovation in its Broadway premiere and adds an element of improvisation to each night it is performed. This show is, literally, never the same show twice and therefore, worth seeing again and again. In addition, East’s production will feature an adult cameo by ECHHS Security Officer, Malcolm Branscomb, in the role of Mitch Mahoney, Comfort Counselor.  Other cameos include Eden Bartholomew, Quentin Redman, Hayden Young, Kyreae Singleton and Imani Chabikuli. Rounding out the cast are Ivy Evers and Grant Lyerly as Rona Peretti and Vice Principal Panch, co-hosts of the spelling bee.

Thursday evening’s performance will be a “School Night” promotion: Tickets are cheaper, $7 advance/$10 door, curtain will be an hour earlier, at 6:30 pm, and the adult content of the show will be rated PG. Friday and Saturday evening’s performances are rated PG-13 for adult language and sexual references, and will curtain at the regular time, 7:30 pm. 

Tickets are available online for all shows for $9 at www.eastreservations.org by credit card only, or can be purchased at the box office every night for $13, cash or check only. Starting November 2, students at East may save the $.50 per ticket service charge for advance online sales by purchasing their advance tickets at the Lunch Sales Box Office in front of the Black Box any weekday – cash or check sales only.