After 20 years, 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' remains letter-perfect

Actors Philippe Arroyo, Leana Rae Concepcion, Jason Kravits, and Matt Manuel discuss the musical’s Off-Broadway revival and why its funny, anxious world remains timeless.

Summary

• Four members of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Off-Broadway cast discuss the musical's 20th anniversary; their takes on their roles; and how the show blends humor and heart
• Spelling Bee follows six quirky students and three adults at a middle school spelling competition

The letters of the alphabet are lining up once again. Twenty years after its original NYC production, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee returns, promising a fresh dose of the musical’s trademark mix of sharp wit, vulnerability, and delightful chaos. The musical’s original New York production debuted off Broadway in 2005 before transferring to Broadway, where it was nominated for six Tony Awards, winning two.

This fall's revival arrives off Broadway at New World Stages following a 2024 premiere at the Kennedy Center, carrying a deep understanding of why this funny, heartfelt musical about childhood anxiety remains so beloved. Adding to the anticipation, several cast members from that acclaimed D.C. run are returning for the New York engagement, and they're spelling out new aspects of their characters this time around.

“It took me a long time to figure out that these are real people,” said Philippe Arroyo, best known for Broadway’s & Juliet and now playing reigning bee champion Chip Tolentino. “Letting go of the comedy a bit and leading with the humanity is something I’m very excited to dive into more.”

The beginnings of the Bee

The original 2005 production of Spelling Bee was an instant phenomenon, first off and then on Broadway. A musical about quirky middle schoolers competing in a spelling championship, it offered an unexpectedly clever take, thanks in part to its Tony-nominated score by William Finn and Tony-winning book by Rachel Sheinkin, but most notably for its audience-participation element. A handful of non-actors were invited on stage each night to compete alongside the cast, creating a lively, unpredictable environment unlike anything else on Broadway at the time.

The original cast, which included future stars like Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Dan Fogler (who nabbed a Tony for his turn), imbued the show with a winning blend of oddball comedy and genuine heart. The current company embraces this legacy with admiration. Jason Kravits — who plays Vice Principal Douglas Panch, one of the bee's three adult supervisors — believes the show’s improvisational nature keeps it ever-present.

“If it’s 2005, it’s going to be in 2005. If it’s 2025, it’s going to be in 2025 — especially because of the improvisation and the audience members who come up to spell,” he said. Matt Manuel, who plays comfort counselor Mitch Mahoney, agreed that the musical’s uninhibited nature is key. “The show doesn’t take itself too seriously, and because of that, it provides a come-as-you-are kind of feeling. It also really touches your heart.”

For a show about a student spelling competition, it carries surprising weight. For the cast, the show’s timelessness lies in its universally relatable look at striving for success. “I think this show is all about competition and winning,” he said. “We all have that thing that drives us to accept and be our best selves. It’s like these kids who are trying so desperately to win this spelling bee have this deeper need to make their parents proud.”

Merrily We Roll Along alum Leana Rae Concepcion, who plays overachiever Marcy Park, said the show’s lightness is a refreshing counterpoint to today’s theatre landscape. “It feels as if with a lot of the new musicals or revivals, there’s almost an obsession with art having to change the world,” she noted. Spelling Bee, she said, allows for “unbridled joy.”

“You go in being like, ‘I’m going to laugh all night.’ And then you walk out being like, ‘Why am I crying?’" she continued. "Because these kids, they found joy and they found love, but in a platonic sense, for each other [...] they found someone who understands them.”

On childhood and competition

The musical’s hilarious facade veils a deeper dive into the anxiety and pressure children face. It’s in this serious exploration that the show shifts from silly comedy to thoughtful drama about the importance of self-acceptance and emotional support.

For Kravits and Manuel, revisiting childhood anxiety invited reflection about their own paths. Kravits admitted his competitive spirit has changed over time. “As I’ve gotten older, the idea of competition has faded quite a bit,” he shared. Whether it was in school or over his career as an actor, he’s learned “it was so much more fun to be friends” than rivals.

Manuel, one of seven siblings, experienced the reverse. “I went through middle school, high school and college very seriously. It wasn’t until I saw my younger siblings have a kind of joy that I was a little envious of,” he admitted, “that I started making a real effort to be more childish.”

From one cast of champions to another

Kravits and Manuel are new to the Off-Broadway cast, but three actors — Arroyo, Concepcion, and Glee’s Kevin McHale — return from the Kennedy Center run, which helped deepen their performances for the NYC transfer. For instance, Arroyo brought his character, Chip, beyond pure comedy, and the earlier run allowed Concepcion to better navigate the cultural weight of Marcy.

“She is really hard for me,” Concepcion said, noting how Asian characters have often leaned on stereotypes. “I would have so many young Asian kids come up to me and thank me for making Marcy more than just a robot.” That validation guided the actress, who wanted to be sure she found "different avenues" of Marcy's character: "I got nervous about wanting to experience that as Leana playing Marcy and showing that she is more than just that stereotype.”

Other cast members’ connections to the show go back even further. Manuel, taking on the role originated by Tony nominee Derrick Baskin, shares a personal link: Manuel joined the cast of Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations on Broadway as Baskin was departing, but the two remain good friends and a mutual support system. Baskin’s advice on playing Mitch? “‘Stop, just relax and you’re going to be fine,’" Manuel said. "I have his blessing to be like, 'Go on your own discovery.'”

Arroyo feels a connection to original cast member Jose Llana, whom he met two years ago. “I was like, ‘Man, how did you sing all this stuff eight shows a week? These songs are so high.’” When Arroyo got the Kennedy Center call, he sent Llana a picture of himself doing Chip’s Boy Scout salute to share the news. “I think he knew exactly what it meant because he just sent one right back with a congratulations.”

Kravits, meanwhile, links the show to his own Broadway beginnings. “I was doing Drowsy Chaperone at the same time Spelling Bee was on Broadway,” he recalled. “My Broadway debut was their Broadway debut.”

As this company steps onto the Off-Broadway stage together, they’re eager to invite audiences back into the unpredictable, exhilarating world of the bee. Every night is a new competition, a new set of stakes, and a new chance for both cast and audience to laugh, cry, and find a little of their childhood selves in the musical's pressure-cooker yet joyful world.

Get The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee tickets now.

Photo credit: Philippe Arroyo, Leana Rae Concepcion, Jason Kravits, and Matt Manuel. (Arroyo photo by Coty Tarr; Concepcion photo by YellowBelly Photo, Kravits photo by Luke Fontana; Manuel photo by Brian Parillo)