Review: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee by Penfold Theatre Company
by Hannah Neuhauser

 

The word is “empathy.”

Defined by Merriam-Webster as “The action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another.”

Originating from the Greek word empatheia  meaning “passion” or "state of emotion."

To use it in a sentence – “Penfold’s production of 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee inspires empathy for our inner child through an ensemble  of lovable characters and specular performances.”

 

(photo via Steve Rogers)The ultimate back-to-middle-school musical is here! Conceived by Rebecca Feldman, book by Rachel Sheinkin, and with music/lyrics William Finn, is a story of six plucky prepubescent kids competing at – you guessed it! – the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. What starts out as an educational event slowly unfolds into a musical therapy session, as each character shares heartbreaking insecurities deriving from absent parenting, peer pressure, and the unwanted challenges of puberty. There can be only one winner, but the best spellers don’t necessarily win. Or at least, they don’t win the shiny trophy and $200 savings bond for future education. What the best spellers win are life-long friends and a healthy dose of self-esteem. 

 

I had the (mis)fortune of playing Marcy senior year for my high school’s production of 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. It  . . . did not meet my expectations. At the time, I was as insecure as my character– needing to win out of obligation but unable to break through the pattern of perfectionism to discover my own happiness.  I pushed those to the bottom of the barrel like most of my unhappy memories and deliberately have neither seen nor listened this show in over a decade. Last night, I thought, I’m a healthy adult now, surely, it’s been long enough to see this show with fresh eyes, so I bravely attended Penfold’s production. Turns out, I still have some memories to work through, but thank God I went!

 

Director Scott Shipman and choreographer Jacob Rosenbaum’s vision is absolutely incredible. Each performer’s physicality is purposeful in engineering endearing tween energy. Even in an uncomfortable pigeon-toed stance, Myk Garcia (Olive Ostrovsky) delivers a beautifully optimistic performance. Likewise, DJ Delvecchio’s asthmatic impersonation of a young Bernie Sanders strongly leads the ensemble in the showstopper “Magic Foot.” I am a sucker for a kick line, and Patrick Anthony’s lighting design times a kaleidoscope of colors in euphoric coordination with Rosenbaum’s vibrant choreography. And kudos to music director Susan Finnigan and the band. It's always a treat to hear live accompaniment. As someone who performed in this show,  I know William Finn’s music is deceptively simple. Charming, childlike-melodies on the surface, but with dissonant undertones matching the characters’ anxieties. His complex harmonization can be a challenge for any ensemble, especially in the climatic tear-jerker “I Love You,” delicately sung by Myk Garcia, Will Mallick (as Chip Tolentino) and Megan DeYoung (as Rona Lisa Peretti). Even if you are not the biggest fan of satirical humor, these musical performances are a standout and worth the price of admission. 

 

(photo by Steve Rogers)

 

For those hesitant because you have seen older versions of this show – I understand where you’re coming from. The 2004 original production of 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee included some negative stereotypes in regard to special needs children. I'm happy to report that Penfold’s production has removed harmful jokes and promotes positive neurodivergent representation. Andrew De La Garza’s jovial performance of Leaf Coneybear is infectious. I was delighted every time he came center stage, singing his heart out with finger fidget toys and a beaming smile. For folks looking for more musicals showcasing neurodivergent roles, this one is a must see. 

 

I highly recommend Penfold’s production of 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Be aware – the show is 90 minutes with no intermission. I repeat - there is no snack break! Use the facilities wisely. This show also heavily encourages crowd participation in the spelling bee! If you're someone who gets nervous when actors float in and out of the audience, I suggest sitting towards the back rows. There is no bad seat in this theatre – only a choice of how close you want to be to the performers.

 

For parents unsure if this is a show for your kids, I will advise 12+, but you're the ultimate judge. There is cursing, and as  previously mentioned, themes of dark realities that children may face growing up. Not all of us may have participated in a spelling bee competition, but we were all once stuck in bodies we didn’t understand, and with big emotions, we had yet to find the words to speak aloud. 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee teaches emotional resilience, a tool I think we need now more than ever.

 

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
by William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin
Penfold Theatre Company

Fridays-Sundays,
September 12 - September 28, 2025
Penfold Theatre
2120 North Mays Street
Rock Creek Plaza
Round Rock, TX, 78664

Sept. 12 -Sunday Sept. 28, 2025
Open dress rehearsal preview Thursday Sept. 11, 2025

Penfold Theatre Company

2120 N. Mays Street, Suite 290, Round Rock, TX 78664 (Map)

Penfold is located in Rock Creek Plaza at I-35 and Texas Ave. Free parking is available on site. Additional Round Rock Rides offers a drop off point at Rock Creek Plaza where Penfold Theatre is located. To learn more about this low-cost ride-sharing program visit here.