Contra Costa Musical Theatre Announces 1st Show In 2 Years

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — Contra Costa Musical Theatre, a Walnut Creek-based nonprofit founded in 1961 to bring high-quality Broadway plays to the East Bay, announced its first musical production in over two years.

"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" will run on select dates Nov. 4-20 at the El Campanil Theatre in Antioch, as after many years at the Lesher Theater in Walnut Creek, CCMT productions now travel to different theaters across the community in an effort to reach new audiences.

Tickets to the show cost $38 for adults and $32 for Youth and Senior showgoers and can be purchased on the El Campanil Theatre website.

"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" is billed as a "riotous ride, complete with audience participation and a den of comedic genius."

Winner of the Tony and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, the musical features a book by Rachel Sheinkin and a score by William Finn.

The plot centers around an eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vying 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. At least the losers get a juice box.

CCMT's production is directed by John Maio and produced by David Pinkham with musical direction from Kerry Leyden and choreography by Justin Sabino. The cast features talented performers from across the Bay Area.

*PLEASE NOTE: This production is rated PG-13 due to a small number of profanities and vulgarities.