Second Stage Acting Troupe presents the musical production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” presented on stage at SAAC August 21–23 at 7:30pm each night. Tickets are available at the South Arkansas Arts Center’s Box Office with tickets being $25 for general public and $15 for SAAC members. This production, presented through special arrangement with MTI, has a playful edge meant for grown-up audiences.
Directed by Hayden Nooner, this musical comedy takes audiences to a quirky middle-school spelling championship where six eccentric contestants—and three equally offbeat adults—navigate the pressure, absurdity, and unexpected camaraderie of competition. As words get longer and stakes grow higher, the spellers learn that winning isn’t everything, and sometimes the best prize is self-discovery.
“I am thrilled to take on a show that is not only wildly entertaining but also uniquely suited to spotlight the depth and diversity of talent within our community,” said Nooner. “At its heart, Spelling Bee is a love letter to the awkward, brilliant, and hilarious quirks that make us human. It offers an extraordinary opportunity to bring together individual talent, strong character work, and powerful ensemble collaboration.”
The cast features Joey Kaar as William Barfee, Kaila Saffle as Olive Ostrovsky, Maggie Phillips as Logainne “Shwartzy” Shwartzandgrubenierre, Hannah Hopson as Marcy Park, Dustin Adams as Leaf Coneybear, Clayton Evers as Charlito “Chip” Tolentino, Bill Meyer as Vice Principal Douglas Panch, Charlsie Langley as Rona Lisa Peretti, and Jade Watts as Mitch Mahoney.
The show’s humor and heart shine through each contestant’s unique journey—from Leaf Coneybear’s heartfelt “I’m Not That Smart,” to Olive Ostrovsky’s quiet longing, to Vice Principal Panch’s deadpan pronunciation guides. Every performer is given a moment in the spotlight, but the magic lies in the ensemble’s connection—reacting, overlapping, and building a world together on stage.
Reserve tickets now for this delightfully offbeat musical that celebrates the humor, heart, and humanity of competition by visiting SAAC Box Office or calling 870-862-5474. This production contains adult language and mature content and may not be suitable for all audiences.