MENOMONIE, WI—The Menomonie Theater Guild is proud to present The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, a humorous and heartwarming musical directed by Carol Diser-Ropella. The production will take place at the historic Mabel Tainter Theater in Menomonie, Wisconsin, with performances on the weekends of May 2-4 and May 9-11. Recommended viewing for ages 13+. 

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee delights audiences with its sharp humor and heartwarming charm. This hilarious and fast-paced musical follows six quirky middle schoolers competing for the ultimate spelling championship. Along the way, they share funny and touching stories from their lives—while nervously hoping to avoid the dreaded “ding” of elimination. With audience participation, witty wordplay, and plenty of surprises, this show is a crowd-pleasing comedic gem. 

With music and lyrics by William Finn and a book written by Rachel Sheinkin, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee explores the themes of finding your unique gifts, trying your best, dealing with disappointment, and making friends. The show features rousing dance numbers and comedic songs as well as heartfelt solos that focus on the spelling bee participants’ personal lives and struggles. There are ample opportunities for the talent of the Menomonie area to be showcased in stellar individual solos and captivating group numbers! 

Tickets for the show are $25 for adults | $23 for seniors/students/military and available now at menomonietheaterguild.org or in-person at the MTG box office located at 502 West Second Street in downtown Menomonie, open Monday and Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.