Critically Acclaimed Spelling Bee Extends Through March 20 at 2nd Stage

William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin's The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee has extended its limited engagement at Second Stage by two weeks. The tuner, directed by James Lapine, will now play off-Broadway through March 20.

The musical, which is rumored for a Broadway transfer, received warm reviews when it opened on February 7. In his Broadway.com Review of the show, Eric Grode wrote: "The overall caliber of onstage talent is alarmingly high… and they have a intelligent, surprising and very sweet piece to work with. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is hardly the weightiest or most soul-scouring show in town. Being the freshest, most delightful show in town will have to do."

Spelling Bee tells the stories of six obsessed word lovers. These outsiders use competition to define themselves, apart from their crazy families, while their struggle to escape childhood is overseen by grown-ups who never completely succeeded in escaping it themselves. The show, conceived by Rebecca Feldman, features a score by Finn and a book by Sheinkin.