25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

[James Walsh]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 4:51am

Hi,
I am from the UK and I was wondering if anyone knew where or who I could get the rights from for Spelling Bee.
Just in the process of writing to Finn himself...just wanted to know if anyone had any other contacts?

Also, anyone know any good shows...apart from Spelling Bee...to do with Youth Theatre students...want it to be along the lines of spelling bee if I cant get the rights.

Thanks

[dramarama2]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 4:55am

As far as I know, the rights for Spelling Bee have not yet been released. Writing to Finn would be your only hope, but I'm not sure if you'll succeed.
Spelling Bee is an extremely original show and I cannot think of any shows remotely like it.
Sorry, that's the best help I can give you.

[dramarama2]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 6:25am

There is a show called "Schoolhouse Rock" and, being plot-less, isn't a great show, but is appropriate for youth theatre and is probably the closest thing your gonna find to Spelling Bee.

Posted: 8/28/07 at 7:35am

I see a TON of youth theater, and, sadly, even the BEST of youth theater doesn't approach Spelling Bee. Schoolhouse Rock Live and its annoying sibling, Schoolhouse Rock Live Too, are poor substitutes. My favorite children's theater (by children? for children?) shows have been Honk, Jr., the Disney Jr. shows, Seussical, Jr., and a little show called Elliot and the Magic Bed. I saw teens do The Compleat Works of Wm. Shakespeare (Abridged) and that was challenging but they pulled it off (not a musical, though).

[dramarama2]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 7:41am

I'm assuming that these aren't children performing in the shows, and so the junior options are probably a bit young for them. Basically, if you can't get the rights for spelling bee, there aren't any real substitutes.

[directorkid]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 9:14am

James Walsh,
I was thinking of doing the same thing. There is a fundraising Dinner Theatre in my area that I direct and I am dying to put on this production. I wanted to contact Mr. Finn directly but I can't find an email or phone anywhere. Mr. Finn doesn't have a "official" website, just a fan site that I can find. How are you contacting him, through NYU perhaps? Any information would be amazing! Hope your production turns out well!