AUDITION NOTICE
Citadel Theatre’s Production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Book by Rachel Sheinkin, Music & Lyrics by William Finn, Conceived by Rebecca Feldman
Directed by Mieko Ouchi
Shoctor Theatre at the Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, AB
The Tony Award–winning musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a hilarious celebration of words, competition, and growing up. In the high-stakes world of a spelling bee, six awkward adolescent champions face off as emotions run from A to Z. With each word spelled, the pressure rises and more than a trophy is on the line. Packed with clever wordplay, infectious songs, and laugh-out-loud humour, this fast-paced musical races to the finish with heart and charm. Six competitors enter but only one can be crowned champion of the bee.
EDMONTON CONTRACT DATES:
Rehearsal Starts: Tuesday, June 9, 2026
First preview: Saturday, July 4, 2026
Opening: Thursday, July 9, 2026
Closing: Sunday, August 2, 2026
AUDITION INFORMATION
AUDITIONS IN EDMONTON: March 13 – 15, 2026. Callback Auditions and Dance Call on March 16, 2026.
SUBMISSION PROCEDURE FOR AUDITIONS:
- We are currently only considering submissions from Edmonton-based actors.
- All submissions should include ONE PDF FILE including both Headshot and Resume.
- Submissions should be emailed to auditions@citadeltheatre.com. Please write “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – Audition” in the subject line and specify the role you are interested in (and any other details) in the body of the email.
- Audition materials will be made available to selected Artists.
THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR EDMONTON IS MARCH 5, 2026.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
The pronouns and ages listed are descriptions of the characters. Actors are welcome to submit for any roles of interest. Please note that while the characters are children, they will be performed by adult actors. Actors must be 18+ years old to submit.
Please note: the roles of William Barfee and Mitch Mahoney have been cast.
Chip Tolentino (also plays Jesus)
He/Him.
13 years old.
Any Ethnicity
Vocal range top: B4 / Vocal range bottom: C3
An athletic, social boy scout and reigning champion of the 24th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, he returns to defend his title, but he finds puberty hitting at an inopportune moment.
Logainne Schwartzandgrubeniere
She/Her.
10 years old.
Any Ethnicity
Vocal range top: G5 / Vocal range bottom: G3
Youngest and the most politically aware Speller, she is driven by internal and external pressure – but above all by a desire to win to make her two fathers proud. She is somewhat of a neat freak, speaks with a lisp, and will be back next year.
Leaf Coneybear (also plays Carl Dad)
He/Him.
11 years old.
Any Ethnicity
Vocal range top: A4 / Vocal range bottom: A2
The second runner-up in his district, he never expected to compete today and finds everything about the Bee incredibly amusing. He is home-schooled and comes from a large family of former hippies. He spells words correctly while in a trance.
Marcy Park
She/Her.
12 years old.
Any Ethnicity
Vocal range top: Eb5 / Vocal range bottom: A3
The ultimate over-achiever, Marcy placed ninth in last year’s nationals. She speaks six languages, is a hockey and championship rugby player, plays Chopin and Mozart on multiple instruments, sleeps only three hours a night, and is getting tired of always winning. She attends a Catholic school called “Our Lady of Intermittent Sorrows.”
Olive Ostrovsky
She/Her.
11 years old.
Any Ethnicity
Vocal range top: F#5 / Vocal range bottom: A3
A young newcomer to competitive spelling. Her mother is in an ashram in India, and her father is working late, as usual, but is trying to come to the Bee. Olive made friends with her dictionary at a very young age, helping her to make it to the competition. She starts enormously shy, and shyly blossoms.
Rona Lisa Peretti (also plays Olive’s Mom)
She/Her.
35-40 years old.
Any Ethnicity
Vocal range top: E5 / Vocal range bottom: C4
Putnam’s long-time Spelling Bee moderator, a local realtor, and 3rd Annual Putnam County spelling champion, this is Rona’s day to be queen. She is a sweet woman who loves children, but she can be very stern when it comes to dealing with Vice Principal Panch and his feelings for her. Her interest in the competition is unflagging.
Douglas Panch
He/Him.
35-60 years old.
Any Ethnicity
The Vice Principal of Lake Hemingway Dos Passos Junior High is frustrated with his life and finds the drive of the young spellers a little alien to him. After five years’ absence from the Bee and an “incident”, he is returning as judge, claiming to be in “a better place” now. He is infatuated with Rona Lisa Peretti.
UNDERSTUDIES: We will also cast three standby understudies. If you are interested in also being considered for an understudy role, please indicate in your submission.
WORKING WITH THE CITADEL THEATRE
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility Statement
We wish to acknowledge that the land on which we live and work is Treaty No. 6 territory and a traditional meeting ground and home of the First Nations, including the treaty signatories – Cree, Saulteaux, Nakota Sioux, Stony and Cree-Iroquois – as well as other Indigenous peoples, such as the Blackfoot and Métis. We extend our appreciation for the opportunity to live, create and perform on this territory.
The Citadel Theatre is in the heart of amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton, AB), and we are proud to call Treaty 6 territory home. As a regional theatre, it is integral that we ensure that the stories we tell, as well as the composition of our artists, board, staff, students, and audience are reflective of the diverse lived experiences in this dynamic city.
We encourage submissions from professional artists who self-identify as members of under-represented communities. For more on Citadel Theatre’s Equity, Inclusivity, and Diversity commitments, please visit: https://citadeltheatre.com/about-us/equity-diversity-inclusion-and-accessibility/
If there are any potential barriers (language, disability, or any other considerations) preventing you from applying to audition please let us know and we will work with you to overcome them.
Accessibility: Citadel Theatre’s rehearsal facilities are accessible. Our building is equipped with elevators and numerous accessible washrooms. The Shoctor Theatre stage and backstage are accessible to artists that have mobility access needs; the backstage area includes elevator access, accessible washrooms (including roll in showers), and an accessible dressing room. Please let us know if you have any questions about the physical layout of our spaces, or other access needs. For more information, please visit: https://citadeltheatre.com/accessibility/
Contact Name: Wayne Paquette
Contact Email Address: auditions@citadeltheatre.com