Everyone loves a coming-of-age tale.
Combine that with the epic struggles of six middle school underdogs competing to shine in their own sport, and you have The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee — a winning musical that sheds a humorous light on adolescents growing up under the pressure to excel, next in Paramount’s BOLD Series, March 12-April 27 at the Copley Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora. Opening Nights are Wednesday and Thursday, March 19 and 20 at 7 p.m. For tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com or call the Paramount Theatre box office, (630) 896-6666.
Whether you were a band kid or a cheerleader, junior high angst is a memory everyone can relate to. Chances are you will recognize one of the six main characters in yourself: the perfectionist, the loner, the kid whose parents are unavailable, the imposter, the sensitive one, and the overachiever.
There might only be one champion of The 25th Anniversary Putnam County Spelling Bee, but at what cost to all of the rest who aim to conquer? As the contestants vie for the championship of a lifetime, themes of competition, identity, and alienation portray the universal awkwardness of growing up — making it the perfect nostalgic musical comedy. Entertaining tunes include “I’m Not That Smart,” “Pandemonium,” “Woe Is Me” and of course, “The I Love You Song.”
Originally directed by James Lapine on Broadway, Spelling Bee was a two-time Tony Award winner, including Best Book for Rachel Sheinkin. Musical theater legend William Finn wrote the catchy tunes and witty lyrics for endearing characters who turn in an entertaining and heartwarming theatrical experience for all, even the overachievers and spelling-challenged among us. The musical was conceived by Rebecca Feldman and features additional material by Jay Reiss.
Here in Aurora, Stephen Schellhardt, a favorite with Paramount audiences for his on stage roles as Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Baker in Into the Woods, and Bruce in Fun Home, will make his Paramount directorial debut with The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, part of Paramount Theatre’s BOLD Series, March 12-April 27, is directed by (top, right) Stephen Schellhardt, and features (middle, from left) Ben Broughton as Leaf Coneybear/Carl Grubenierre, Naphtali Curry as Mitch Mahoney/Dan Schwartz/Olive's dad, Nic Dantes as Chip Tolentino/Jesus Christ, Ann Delaney as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere/Leaf’s mom, Teddy Gales as William Barfee/Leaf's dad, (bottom) Veronica Garza as Rona Lisa Perretti/Olive’s mom, Jason Richards as Douglas Panch, Elizabeth Stenholt as Olive Ostrovsky, and Shelbi Voss as Marcy Park.
Likewise, Spelling Bee features a who’s who of Paramount lead actors together on stage: Ann Delaney (Vicki in The Full Monty) as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere/Leaf’s mom, Veronica Garza (Rosalie Mullins in School of Rock, Georgie in The Full Monty) as Rona Lisa Perretti/Olive’s mom, Jason Richards (Weselton in Disney’s Frozen, Mr. Salt in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) as Douglas Panch, Elizabeth Stenholt (Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Medium Alison in Fun Home) as Olive Ostrovsky, and Shelbi Voss (Girl in Peter and the Starcatcher, Anna (understudy) in Disney’s Frozen) as Marcy Park. Ben Broughton (ensemble, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) plays Leaf Coneybear/Carl Grubenierre. Naphtali Curry (Mitch Mahoney/Dan Schwartz/Olive's dad), Nic Dantes (Chip Tolentino/Jesus Christ) and Teddy Gales (William Barfee/Leaf's dad) are all making their Paramount debut.
Behind the scenes, Paramount’s production team includes Morgan DiFonzo, choreographer and assistant director; Kory Danielson, music director and music supervisor; Cameron Tragesser, conductor and associate music director; Otto Vogel, associate conductor; Lauren M. Nichols, scenic designer; Theresa Ham, costume designer; G. “Max” Maxin IV, lighting designer; Adam Rosenthal, sound designer; Aimee Plant, properties designer; Ethan Deppe, electronic music designer; Susan Gosdick, dialect coach; Matthew Silar, stage manager; and Amanda Blanco, assistant stage manager.
Previews start Wednesday, March 12. There are two Pay-What-You-Can Previews, Thursday, March 13 at 7 p.m., and Saturday, March 15 at 2 p.m.
Press openings are Wednesday and Thursday, March 19 and 20 at 7 p.m.
Performances run through April 27: Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Thursday at 7 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Single tickets are $40-$55. Go to ParamountAurora.com or call
(630) 896-6666 to purchase tickets, or visit the Paramount box office,
23 E. Galena Blvd., Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until show time on show days. Content warning: some adult language and content.
Note: Paramount will offer an American Sign Language interpreted performance on Friday, April 18 at 8 p.m. Paramount also offers assistive listening devices free of charge at all performances. Check in at the box office before the show to borrow a listening device. If you require wheelchair or special seating or other assistance, please contact the box office at (630) 896-6666 or boxoffice@paramountarts.com in advance.
All Paramount BOLD Series productions are presented at the Copley Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd., in downtown Aurora. For the latest updates, follow @ParamountAurora on Facebook and Instagram, and Paramount Theatre on LinkedIn.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is sponsored by Alarm Detection Systems, Inc. Paramount’s 2024-25 BOLD Series is sponsored by Old National Bank. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
From BOLD to BOLDER: Paramount’s announces 2025-26 BOLD Series line-up
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee may be the finale of Paramount’s 2024-25 BOLD Series, but Paramount just announced three more exciting works coming to the Copley in 2025-26 as part of its fourth BOLD Series: Sam Shepard’s American classic True West, directed by Paramount Artistic Director Jim Corti (July 16–August 31, 2025), the Chicago premiere of the buzzy new play Covenant by York Walker, directed by Goodman Theatre’s Malkia Stampley (October 1–November 16, 2025), and the first area Equity staging of Ride the Cyclone since its debut in 2015, directed by Lauren Berman (March 18–May 31, 2026).
See The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and you’ll see why you should sign-up for Paramount’s 2025-26, three-play BOLD Series for as little as $78.
Also this spring, right across the street at Paramount Theatre, the 2024-2025 Broadway Series has two blockbuster musicals on tap: the Chicago Area Premiere of Waitress, Sara Bareilles’ popular musical about a small-town waitress with a dream and the recipe for success, February 12-March 30, and a stunning, circus-inspired revival of Cats, April 30-June 15, 2025.
Looking to 2025-26, Paramount also revealed a four-show line-up for its 14th Broadway Series, and just as it has since it launched its first Broadway Series in 2011, Paramount still offers the same “Buy Two Shows, Get Two Shows Free” offer, with packages starting as low as $60. Next season boasts two Chicago-area premieres - Come from Away, directed by Trent Stork, (August 20–October 12, 2025) and Dear Evan Hansen, directed by Jessica Fisch (February 4–March 22, 2026).
Add the most iconic holiday musical of all time, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, directed by Stephen Schellhardt (November 12, 2025–January 11, 2026), and the beloved 1940s World War II era musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific, directed by Devon Hayakawa and Trent Stork (April 29-June 14, 2026), now that’s one enchanted season.
(top, from left): Garrett Forrestal plays Jerry Lee Lewis, Matt McClure is Carl Perkins, (bottom) Bill Scott Sheets plays Johnny Cash and Alex Swindle is Elvis Presley in Paramount’s immersive Million Dollar Quartet at Stolp Island Theatre.
That’s not all! Paramount’s critically acclaimed, immersive restaging of Million Dollar Quartet continues to rock in Paramount’s new Stolp Island Theatre, 5 E. Downer Place, Suite G in downtown Aurora, where it’s been extended through June 29, 2025. All seats remain just $65. Don’t wait, as performances continue to sell-out.
For subscriptions, tickets and information, visit ParamountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or stop by the Paramount Theatre box office, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until show time on show days.
About Paramount Theatre
Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., is the center for performing arts in Aurora, the second largest city in Illinois. The beautiful, 1,843-seat theater, graced with a strong 1930s Art Deco influence and original Venetian décor, nationally known for its high-quality productions, superb acoustics and historic grandeur, has been downtown Aurora’s anchor attraction since 1931.
Since launching its own Broadway Series in 2011, Paramount has amassed more than 35,000 subscribers, making it the largest subscription house in the U.S.
For over 50 years, the Joseph Jefferson Awards has recognized excellence in Chicago area theater. Paramount has been honored to earn 124 Jeff nominations and 31 wins over the last eight years of eligibility, including six Jeff Awards in 2022 for Kinky Boots, including Best Musical-Large, Paramount’s fourth win in that category following Sweeney Todd (2017), West Side Story (2016) and Les Misérables (2015).
Paramount Theatre is one of five live performance venues overseen by the Aurora Civic Center Authority (ACCA) in downtown Aurora. ACCA also programs and manages the 165-seat Copley Theatre, home to Paramount’s BOLD Series, at 8 E. Galena in the North Island Center; Stolp Island Theatre, now open at 5 E. Downer Place, Suite G, with a wildly acclaimed immersive production of Million Dollar Quartet, extended through June 2025; RiverEdge Park, downtown Aurora’s outdoor summer concert venue at 360 N. Broadway; and the Paramount School of the Arts.
Paramount Theatre continues to expand its artistic and institutional boundaries under the guidance of Tim Rater, President and CEO, Aurora Civic Center Authority; Jim Corti, Artistic Director, Paramount Theatre; a dedicated Board of Trustees and a devoted staff of live theater and music professionals.
For the latest updates, visit ParamountAurora.com or follow @paramountaurora on Facebook and Instagram, and Paramount Theatre on LinkedIn.