How Do You Spell R-I-S-Q-U-E? Spelling Bee to Perform "Adults Only" Show 10/2

Every performance, families crowd into the Circle in the Square to watch The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. But on the evening of October 2, children are not welcome. For that show only, there will be special, more risque words and sentences heard at the bee.

"During rehearsals, I would occasionally cross the line a bit and use some material that was pretty filthy," Jay Reiss, who plays Vice Principal Douglas Panch and also writes the definitions and sentences used throughout the show, explains. "The cast would crack up, and director James Lapine would say, 'That is so wrong.' On Sunday evening, October 2, some of that material will be used for the first and possibly last time in front of a live audience."

In The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser. The show features music and lyrics by William Finn, a book by Rachel Sheinkin and was conceived by Rebecca Feldman. In addition to Reiss, the cast also features Derrick Baskin, Deborah S. Craig, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Dan Fogler, Lisa Howard, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Jose Llana, Jay Reiss and Sarah Saltzberg. James Lapine directs.

Tickets have been on sale for this performance of Spelling Bee for some time but a spokesperson for the production said that in the last few weeks all ticket holders have somehow been notified of the mature nature of the evening's performance. Those with tickets were given the option of refunds or exchanges.