A musical comedy that portrays a fictional spelling bee in which six quirky adolescents—played by adult actors—compete under the supervision of three equally offbeat grownups. Fueled by audience participation, the competition becomes a heartfelt journey of growth, resilience, and finding connection in unexpected places. Featuring a cast of eccentric overachievers, clever songs, and sharp improvisation, this Tony-winning hit is a grown-up laugh-fest with even more heart.

When:

• Monday, December 14, 2026 at 7:00 PM - 8:45 PM
• Thursday, December 17, 2026 at 7:00 PM - 8:45 PM

Where: Wheelice Wilson, Jr. Theatre at Coppell Arts Center - 505 Travis St, Coppell, TX 75019

Directions: Google Maps to Event Venue Apple Maps to Event Venue

Credits

Music and lyrics by William Finn
Book by Rachel Sheinkin
Conceived by Rebecca Feldman
Additional material by Jay Reiss

Production Team

Director: John Arthur
Assistant Director: Robyn Barnes
Music Director: Kelley Poche’ Rodriguez

Audition Details

• Sign up link: https://forms.gle/NvC6o4T5NNd4M28NA
• Prepare to sing 45 - 60 seconds in the style of the show that demonstrates vocal and acting range
• A live accompanist will be present
• Please do not bring backing tracks
• Please have your sheet music in the key you want to sing, double-sided, hole punched, and in a 3-ring binder
• If you are unable to print double-sided, please tape pages back-to-back
• No staples or plastic sheet protectors
• Cold performance of sides from “Putnam”
• Sides will not be provided prior to auditions

Background Check [Casting policy]

For any production involving minors, Theatre Coppell must conduct background checks on all actors and crew members over the age of 18. You must consent to and clear a criminal background check upon casting.

Media Release [Photo/Video Policy]

Upon casting, actors will grant permission to Theatre Coppell and Coppell Arts Center to take photos and / or videos of them, included, but not limited to publicity, advertising, social media, web content.

Tentative Rehearsals & Performances Calendar

Those auditioning should be prepared to list all conflicts or potential conflicts and availability for the rehearsal period as specified in the Audition notice.

Rehearsals

• Begin Monday, January 4
• Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
• Sundays at 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
• A detailed rehearsal schedule will be made available upon the completion of casting
• No conflicts accepted during the two weeks prior to opening night
• Tech week is Sunday, January 31, February 1, 2, 4

Performances

• Friday, February 5, 2027 at 7:30 PM
• Saturday, February 6, 2027 at 7:30 PM
• Sunday, February 7, 2027 at 2:00 PM
• Friday, February 12, 2027 at 7:30 PM
• Saturday, February 13, 2027 at 7:30 PM
• Sunday, February 14, 2027 at 2:00 PM
• Friday, February 19, 2027 at 7:30 PM
• Saturday, February 20, 2027 at 7:30 PM
• Sunday, February 21, 2027 at 2:00 PM

Characters

Most actors will likely double in roles as the children's parents and siblings.

Males in the primary roles of children will be expected to be clean-shaven for performances.

Chip Tolentino
Male
16 - 40
Tenor with easy and frequent high notes C3 to B4

The reigning spelling champion, relatively athletic and social, he expects things to come easily to him. Lately, though, he’s been going through some weird changes, and things are slipping out of his control.

Logan Schwartzandgrubenniere
Female
16 - 40
Alto with a G3 to F5

Driven by internal and external pressure. Has a desire to make her two fathers proud. She lisps, is a little uncomfortable in her body, has some tics, but still manages to strike a strong presence with her political awareness and keen sense of justice. Having drilled words for hours a day, she is aware of everything that passes in the room.

Leaf Coneybear
Male
16 - 40
Baritenor, low A to high G

Home-schooled with his many siblings, everything about this public bee is an adventure for him, from meeting the other kids, to showing off his homemade clothing, to each moment of unexpected attention. He may have severe attention deficit disorder, but he delights in his own wandering focus. His mother has made him wear his protective helmet to the bee.

William Barfee
Male
16 - 40
Tenor C3 to B4

Has a host of health problems and a lot to prove. Loud and combative as a defensive posture, he is the fat kid who becomes a bully to avoid being picked on. His parents are divorced, his father remarried to a much younger woman, and William does not expect kindness from anyone but his mother. Friendship takes him by surprise. He’s noticed on the spelling circuit for his remarkable technique, spelling words out of the floor with his foot.

Marcy Park
Female
16 - 40
Alto with belt, A3 to D5

The ultimate overachiever, Marcy has never been given another option. She comes from a family where excellence is expected and so simply produced. A parochial school student, she assumes God, too, expects perfection. Her many talents include piano, dance, martial arts, baton twirling, and / or other special gifts you can find in your casting pool.

Olive Ostrovsky
Female
16 - 40
Soprano, A3 to C6 with strong middle range

A word lover, Olive has a fairly quiet life. An only child with often-absent parents, Olive spends a lot of her time alone. She fills some of that time reading the dictionary, the words bring her comfort, as does the idea of the vastness of the world the book contains. During the first half of the bee, she often peers into the audience to see if her father, who is delayed at work, has made it yet. She starts enormously shy, and shyly blossoms.

Rona Perretti
Female
25 - 55
Soprano, C4 to B5

Putnam’s long-time spelling bee hostess, a local realtor, and 3rd annual Putnam County spelling champion. This is Rona’s day to be queen. From her perspective, she keeps the bee running smoothly, upholds protocol, and conveys crucial information to the audience. She thinks of this as a complex cerebral sporting event, and she wants the audience to understand every twist and turn.

Vice Principal Panch
Male
35 - 55
Baritone G2 to F4

Vice Principal Panch fell into education, less out of love than a general ability uncoupled to a particular passion. The drive of the young spellers is alien to him. He never found anything that important. Stuck in his current job, endlessly awaiting a promotion that isn’t coming, he was not happy to get the call this morning that he was needed to substitute.

Mitch Mahoney
Male
25 - 55
Baritone C3 to A4

With a bouncer’s physique and demeanor, Mitch appears an odd choice to be the bee’s comfort counselor, but it’s part of his community service assignment. The outsider, who in a way gets to inhabit the audience perspective, he wonders about the wisdom of putting the kids through this at all.