The highly anticipated 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, one of the most lauded Broadway hits of 2005 and winner of two Tony Awards, will make its Hawaii debut as Manoa Valley Theatre's season finale, onstage July 1 - 19.

Show times are Wed.-Thur. 7:30 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m. and Sun. 4 p.m.
HGEA members receive a $5 discount off the regular adult ticket price of $35.
Valid thru July 19, 2009, based on availability.
Cannot be combined with any other offer; members must mention HGEA DISCOUNT at time of purchase.
Discount not available online; phone and walk-up orders only.
Seniors and military are admitted for $30; patrons 25 years old and under for $20.
Recommended minimum age is 10.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee chronicles the trials and tribulations of six young spelling whizzes in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, as they learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser.

This tuneful, offbeat and at times heartwarming show offers audience members the (strictly voluntary) opportunity to become part of the action as on-stage spellers. MVT is making the most of its flexible black-box space by reconfiguring the theatre into cabaret seating and designing the entire house to resemble a high school gymnatorium. Wait staff dressed as cheerleaders will provide beverage service in-house, and audience members will be invited to purchase $5 sack lunches courtesy of the Lunch Lady (actor Braddoc DeCaires).

"Can you spell i-r-r-e-s-i-s-t-i-b-l-e? Spelling Bee is riotously funny and remarkably ingenious. Gold stars all around," says The New York Times. The Wall Street Journal called it "perfect in every possible way - that rarity of rarities, a super-smart musical that is also a bona fide crowd-pleaser. An ingenious blend of simplicity and sophistication, it's not merely funny, it's wise."

Manoa Valley Theatre is located at 2833 East Manoa Road. For more information, call MVT at 988-6131 or log on to www.manoavalleytheatre.com.