25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee PREVIEWS (Off-Broadway, New World Stages)

Grab a D-I-C-T-I-O-N-A-R-Y and welcome to Spelling Bee OFF-BROADWAY!

This heartfelt Tony-Award winning musical follows a group of wonderfully unique and impassioned adolescents as they compete for the bee championship. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a joyful night of comedy and quirk that celebrates the pursuit of victory and the gift of being true to oneself.  Running from tonight, November 7 to February 15 at New World Stages. Opening night is Monday, November 17.

 Jasmine Amy Rogers as Olive Ostrovsky, Autumn Best as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, Matt Manuel as Mitch Mahoney, Philippe Arroyo as Chip Tolentino, Leana Rae Concepcion as Marcy Park, Justin Cooley as Leaf Coneybear, and Kevin McHale as William Barfée. Tony Award nominee Cooper (Tootsie) and Kravits (The Drowsy Chaperone) will play Rona Lisa Peretti and Vice Principal Douglas Panch, respectively.

https://spellingbeenyc.com/

Updated On: 11/8/25 at 05:38 PM

I saw it and I thought it was pretty frickin great. About as faithful of a production/revival as you can imagine, and yet it really hits well and feels fresh. I don't think every actor was delivering at the same level (I mean, it was a first preview), but there were some outstanding performances for sure. Justin Cooley is probably going to have one of the best careers in musical theater, he's just incredible and so so good at whatever he's doing. Jasmine is fantastic too, so likeable and such a fantastic voice. As an ensemble they all sound pretty astounding. Great sound mix too, which I was not expected for a first preview.

Hard to say which performances just need a little time to settle, and which are sort of just "baked", since it was the first preview. I'd be interested to go back later to see how the director molds some of the other performances.

It's a show I'm already recommending to people, so I'd say go. It's a great night and it's so wonderful to just live in the world of these amazing songs and these weird little characters. Especially in this fraught moment we're living in.

Thanks Dexter, I'm going to wait a few weeks to see this one but the cast seems great. And I completely agree with you about Justin, the moment he opened his mouth in Kimberly Akimbo I just knew he was an incredibly special performer. The merch is super cute too!

TeeLowe said: "Saw this on Monday night, it was very well done. The cast was giving their all and you could tell the audience was having a blast. For the audience-participation spellers, we had Nick Offerman (and they played into this by having him spell complicated whiskey and Scotch brand names). I saw on social media that Stephanie J Block also recently was a guest speller. Are they pulling a Oh, Hello/Gutenberg! The Musical! and having a celeb participation for each show?"

I saw this on Monday also. The audience went crazy when they called “Nicholas Offerman” to the stage.  Very strong production, just like it was in DC, but I think I liked the DC cast as a whole better. What a nearly perfect show. Jasmine’s I Love You Song was magnificent.

Really hoping this extend until May, I'm DYING TO SEE

Extended through April 2026

Have there been any "celebrity" spellers other than Nick Offerman so far?

A Broadway performer or two have (Stephanie Block) - but any names on last nights "Gala" ?  Maybe there will be one tonight at press Opening ? 

‘25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ Review: A Delightful Competition

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/theater/25th-annual-putnam-county-spelling-bee-review.html?unlocked_article_code=1.2E8.oLV8.f1sqIlb7mGvS&smid=nytcore-android-share

Understudies in today for Olive and Logainne

 

I felt that Emily N. Rudolph nailed tentative, booksmart Olive (can't image Jasmine was better in the role - probably more powerhouse which I don't think would work as well).  

 

Not understudy, but Justin Cooley was phenomenal.  A bit more animated than Jesse Ferguson but it worked.  

 

A satisfying production.  Boy do I miss William Finn!

 

 

Updated On: 1/4/26 at 11:41 PM

I was wondering the same thing

 

does anyone know when Jasmine is returning?

She posted to her socials that she has the flu so I'm not optimistic she'll be back this week. I was going to go on Saturday matinee but I'm not sure if I should reschedule since I've already seen most of this cast at the Kennedy Center. 

Updated On: 1/9/26 at 03:38 PM

EDSOSLO858 said: "Jasmine is back tonight."

Flu must be sweeping through Spelling Bee. Cecilia Snow made her Rona debut tonight with Brandon Louis Armstrong debuting as William Barfee. Emily Rudolph(Olive) & Jahbril Cook(Chip) were on both shows yesterday.