Starring: - Jose Llana
- Rachel Sheinkin
- Derrick Baskin
Description:
When was the last time you heard a musical with a truly hilarious book? Rachel Sheinkin has concocted such a thing for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, one of the most unexpected hits of 2005. Unfortunately, Sheinkin's wit is mostly lost on a cast album; fortunately, the show's songs are by the great William Finn. Set at the titular event, the musical never looks down on the competiting kids (played by adult actors), instead portraying them as endearingly nerdy but also smart, and endowing them with real personalities rather than predictably spelling-bee tics. The cast is uniformly superb, although personal faves include Sarah Saltzberg, playing Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre with a delicious lisp ("Woe Is Me"); Jesse Tyler Ferguson, bringing sweet innocence to Leaf Coneybear ("I'm Not That Smart"); and Dan Fogler, in a breakout comic performance as William Barfee ("Magic Foot," sounding like a sly tribute to Kander & Ebb). This show may be small in scale, but it's a huge winner.
1. 25th Annual Putam County Spelling Bee, The
2. Spelling Rules, The / My Favorite Moment Of The Bee 1
3. My Friend, The Dictionary
4. First Goodbye, The
5. Pandemonium
6. I'm Not That Smart
7. Second Goodbye, The
8. Magic Foot
9. Pandemonium Reprise / My Favorite Moment Of The Bee 2
10. Why We Like Spelling
11. Prayer Of The Comfort Counselor
12. My Unfortunate Erection (Chip's Lament)
13. Woe Is Me
14. I'm Not That Smart - (Reprise)
15. I Speak Six Languages
16. I Love You Song, The
17. Woe Is Me - (Reprise)
18. My Favorite Moment Of The Bee 3/Second
19. Finale
20. Last Goodbye, The
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
