Jenna Najjar as Rona Lisa Peretti and Ian Anderson as Douglas Panch are the two ‘adults’ overseeing the competition in ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.’

VALDOSTA – Peach State Summer Theatre is ready to spell “O-p-e-n-i-n-g N-i-g-h-t.”

The Valdosta-based musical theatre opens the 2024 season with “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” a hilarious and irreverent show about six youngsters competing for the spelling championship.

“The show is heartwarming and very funny,” said Hank Rion, show director and PSST! artistic director.

But it’s not a show for young children, he said.

“We’ve made it a little more family friendly. … I wish they had a version that’s more accessible to kids,” Rion said.

Peach State describes “Spelling Bee”: “An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents (played by adult actors) vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming ‘ding’ of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves a champion! At least the losers get a juice box.”

The musical comedy features music and lyrics by William Finn with a book written by Rachel Sheinkin, conceived by Rebecca Feldman with additional material by Jay Reiss. On Broadway, the show was nominated for six Tony Awards and won two, including best book.

The show features a tight cast of nine professional actors but each performance will spotlight a few audience members, Rion said.

Audience members who are willing to step on stage for a few moments are asked to complete a questionnaire prior to the show, producers select about three of the interested audience members, some lines and jokes are written based on the answers to the questionnaire to be added to the script; at some point during the show, audience members are called to the stage.

But the majority of the acting and singing is left to the professionals.

Ian Anderson as Douglas Panch and Jenna Najjar as Rona Lisa Peretti are the two “adults” overseeing the spelling bee. Anderson and Najjar appeared together last PSST! season as King Arthur and the Lady of the Lake in “Monty Python’s Spamalot.” Based on a preview of a few songs, they still have great chemistry as Mr. Panch swoons over Ms. Peretti though she rebuffs him at every turn.

“Spelling Bee” is the first show in the 2024 PSST! season. It is followed by “Five Guys Named Moe,” opening June 14, and “Annie,” opening June 28. All three shows play in rotating repertory through July 20, in Sawyer Theatre, Valdosta State University Fine Arts Building.

Rion said rehearsals are already underway for “Moe,” under the direction of Tim Goins, drama and dance teacher at Brooks County Schools. Rehearsals start next week for “Annie,” also directed by Rion.

But first “Spelling Bee” must open this weekend.

THE CAST: Steven Isaac Rice, Teegan SinClair, Cedar Jacob Moore, Kameron Porter, Jenna Najjar, Mica Dominguez-Robinson, Andrew Rowell, Ian Anderson, Molly Armstrong.

DIRECTION, PRODUCTION: Hank Rion, director, choreographer; David Springfield, musical director; Joe Mason and Maila Gutierrez Springfield, co-vocal directors; Drake Miller, technical director; Grayson Singleton, stage manager; Erica F. Hunter, hair & wig designer; Jason Lee Courson, scene designer; Christian Specht, lighting designer; Chalise Ludlow, costume designer; Zach Cramer, sound designer.

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” opens 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 8; 3 p.m. Sunday, June 9, then several times on specific dates through July 20, Sawyer Theatre, VSU Fine Arts Building, corner of Oak and Brookwood. For more information, visit www.valdosta.edu/psst; call or visit the box office, (229) 259-7770, outside of Sawyer Theatre. Box office hours are 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon-2 p.m. Sundays. The Valdosta Daily Times is the Peach State Summer Theatre corporate sponsor.