The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Reviews

Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended

"...These kids may require definitions to find the right spelling, but as they grow beyond the definitions imposed upon them by the grown-ups, we start rooting for them. In this lighthearted but wise "Spelling Bee," the notion that everybody should get a trophy makes perfect sense."

Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended

"...You don't have to love dictionaries to find delight in this musical, which arrived on Broadway in 2005, was conceived by Rebecca Feldman, and features a zippy, aptly eccentric score by William Finn and an alternately funny and touching Tony Award-winning book by Rachel Sheinkin. But who doesn't love derivations and definitions and the sheer magic of language? And at a time when kids are being so pushed, prepped, tested and fueled by adult anxieties, something about this show just feels made-to-order. The danger that lurks is that the whole thing can become overly cute and precious. But director Scott Weinstein and his cast have neatly sidestepped such pitfalls."

Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended

"...You'd be forgiven for thinking that this amiable musical comedy, about a group of quirky kids competing in a middle school spelling bee, is just another crowd-pleasing cash cow—Nunsense with nerds. That's how most companies approach it, going for easy laughs by playing up familiar stereotypes. But when you take the time to explore the characters and the story, as this sparkling Griffin Theatre Company production does, what emerges is the kind of angst-ridden exploration of the world of hyperachieving whiz kids that you expect from someone like William Finn, who wrote the music and lyrics."

Time Out Chicago - Highly Recommended

"...It feels unfair to single out anyone among Weinstein's astounding young cast, some of whom for which this isn't their first Spelling Bee. But Laura McClain deserves a callout as the bee's unctuous former-champ host; the rising musical-theater actress appears to be having unprecedented fun working her improv chops to wrangle the guest spellers. Among the kids, Landree Fleming as the lisping Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, whose unwieldy last name combines those of her pressuring dads, and Daniel Desmarais as Leaf Coneybear, a special snowflake who designs his own outfits, make big impressions, but then so do spellers Charlotte Mae Ellison, Conor McCahill, Rochelle Therrien and William Lucas, and adults Steven Perkins and Andy Cameron. There's good reason this show has seen such wide success. Don't wait to have it spelled out for you."