We need to revive SPELLING BEE on Broadway right now.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 8/28/16 at 12:56am

Those who brought it up on this thread inspired me to re-listen to the cast album in full again, and the show is just so, so good. Who can make this happen immediately?

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 8/28/16 at 1:00am

That idea makes me feel old.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 8/28/16 at 1:01am

I think they were lucky to snag the Circle in the Square for their Broadway run. I'd be worried to see it go into any other Broadway theatre (but then again, we say that about lots of shows that go to Broadway). I'd rather see a really top-notch Off-Broadway revival.

[Oak2]

Posted: 8/28/16 at 1:03am

I only recently listened to the soundtrack to it for the first time last week, and have seen bits of various productions of it, and I fullly agree - I would LOVE to see this done professionally. It'd also be so fun to be one of the audience members - I love everything I've heard about the audience participation aspect of the show. But yes, if they do revive this, I'll be making sure I get a ticket to it sometime during that run! 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/28/16 at 1:29am

*cast recording

 

And this is one of my favorite shows. I've seen many productions of it, including Broadway and the recent-ish Ford's Theatre production in DC. It does not need a Broadway revival anytime soon. It's also not that hard to find a professional theatre that's doing it.

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 8/28/16 at 2:28am

I find it hard to imagine the show without the original cast.  They were just so perfect.  It was one of my first broadway experiences.  I saw The Light in the Piazza, Spelling Bee, and Spamalot.  I still have no clue how Spamalot won over two of the greatest pieces of modern musical theatre.

Emily Skeggs would make a lovely Olive.

[hork]

Posted: 8/28/16 at 2:40am

LizzieCurry said: "*cast recording

 



 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 8/28/16 at 2:26pm

I would also be totally content with a killer production off-Bway at New World Stages or somewhere like that. I just miss having this show in New York. It's brilliant. 

[NOWaWarning]

Posted: 8/29/16 at 3:16am

I find it hard to imagine the show without the original cast.  They were just so perfect.  It was one of my first broadway experiences.  I saw The Light in the Piazza, Spelling Bee, and Spamalot.  I still have no clue how Spamalot won over two of the greatest pieces of modern musical theatre.

It's interesting, I've seen it done with actors giving performances very close to what the original cast did and with actors putting their own spin on the characters. Both worked because the material is so strong, but that original cast was just perfect and no Olive has moved me quite as much as Celia Keenan-Bolger. I agree that Spamalot winning is a real WTF in retrospect. Featured Actress was also a crazy category with Celia, Kelli, and Sara.

 

 

[newintown]

Posted: 8/29/16 at 9:42am

Yes, it was a very fun little show, and it had a respectable little run in a (relatively) little theater for about 2 and 3/4 years. And that was only 8 years ago.

I doubt that anyone can make a NYC revival happen this soon. Nor can I imagine why anyone would; but it's being done regionally - why not make a trip to see one of those? It's not the kind of show that requires stars (or even professionals) to work well.

[ilovebabyv]

Posted: 8/29/16 at 10:55am

SPELLING BEE????? Yeah, it's a good show, but if we are talking about revivals that absolutely NEED to happen, Gigi is at the top of the list. That show did not get the recognition it deserved, especially with a lead like Vanessa Hudgens. BRING GIGI BACK.

[newintown]

Posted: 8/29/16 at 11:19am

When that Gigi revival does happen, please introduce me to the investors, because I have a lot of other great projects that need idiots' money.

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 8/29/16 at 12:11pm

Spelling Bee and Gigi will both continue to have lovely regional lives.  neither need to return to broadway anytime soon.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/29/16 at 12:51pm

Gigi doesn't really have much of a regional life.

But Spelling Bee thrives regionally- not surprisingly.