READING — Reading Civic Theatre in conjunction with Alvernia University presents "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" August 5-6, 12-13 at Alvernia Montessori School (St. Anthony's Auditorium), 211 Grace St., Reading.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a one-act musical comedy conceived by Rebecca Feldman with music and lyrics by William Finn, a book by Rachel Shein0kin and additional material by Jay Reiss. The show centers around a fictional spelling bee set in a geographically ambiguous Putnam Valley Middle School. Six quirky adolescents compete in the Bee, run by three equally-quirky grown-ups.

The 2005 Broadway production, directed by James Lapine was nominated for six Tony Awards, winning two, including Best Book.

The RCT cast includes Danelle Wagner as Rona Lisa Perth, Stan Durlack as Vice Principal Douglas Panch, Jason Denlenger as Mitch Mahoney, Angela DeAngelo as Olive Ostrovsky, Jamie Richard as William Barfee, Marisa Hoover as Logainne Schwartz and Grubenierre, Heidi Carletti as Marcy Park, Corey Buller as Leaf Coneybear, and Caleb Seip as Chip Toleration.

Tickets are available by calling the ticket line 610-373-3311. Friday and Saturday performances are at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. For information call 610-375-7482 or visit http://readingcivic.org/.

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