“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is coming comedy fans’ way. Its last showing in South Jordan was in 2021 and is now back by popular demand. The show is a musical comedy. The music and lyrics are by William Finn with a book written by Rachel Sheinkin, and the play conceived by Rebecca Feldman. The show centers on a fictional spelling bee set in a geographically ambiguous Putnam Valley Middle School. The students are from various elementary schools. These six quirky adolescents compete in the Bee, run by three equally quirky grown-ups.

“It’s a hysterical musical performed by our comedy troupe,” said Kensington Theatre’s Producer, Choreographer, Technical Director and Costumer Toni Butler. “This same show is currently playing off-Broadway.”

 This play was a modest production until earning good reviews and box-office success. The Tony Awards it received in 2005 caught people’s attention. It was nominated for six Tony Awards, winning two, including Best Book from a Musical. This show has spawned various other productions in the United States and even in other countries. This production is being sponsored by Salt Lake County ZAP funds, Now Playing Utah, Early Light Academy and Butler Tax and Accounting.

An unusual aspect of the show is that four real audience members are contacted and informed they’ll later be pulled into the production. They also have a live band with Lauren Carter playing the synthesizer, Jennifer Hansen on keyboard, Angel Williams on percussion, Sierra Anderson playing the cello and Tanner Lindsay and Michelle Lyons on winds. The action and humor continue while the audience watches the show that’s a quarter improvisations and three quarters scripted. 

1. “The 25th Annual Spelling Bee’s” cast will be played by the Kensington Theatre Improvinators. The cast will include Rebekah Price playing Rona Lisa Peretti; Maggie Scott as Rona’s Assistant; Jack Sheehan playing Chip Tolentino; Sayla Butler as Logianne Schwartzandgrubeniere; Tevan McPeak playing Leaf Coneybear; Logan Bingham as William Barfee; Kameryn Grose as Marcy Parks; Lydia Belvane playing Olive Ostrovsky; Rob Abney as Principal Douglas Panch; Seth Goldklang as Mitch Mahoney; and volunteers from the audience to be determined.

“This show will be in the little black box theater which holds just 58 people,” said Butler. Planning ahead to take advantage of the various dates is recommended.

• Performances: April 10, 11, 13, 17, 18, 20, May 1, 2 at 7:30 p.m. and May 2 at 2 p.m.
• Tickets: All Seats $15
• Age Recommendation: 10+
• Ticket Policy: No refunds, no one under 3 will be admitted in the theatre.