LAMDA returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
LAMDA returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with Hit Musical Comedy - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
After last year’s critically acclaimed production of Into The Woods, LAMDA is delighted to present for the second year at the world’s largest arts festival with another lively and heartfelt musical.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a fast-paced, comedic musical that follows six quirky middle schoolers as they compete in a spelling bee. Along the way, they face personal challenges, teenage struggles, and surprising life lessons. With laugh-out-loud moments, touching scenes, and audience participation, the show captures the chaos and charm of growing up.
With music and lyrics by the late William Finn who passed away in April this year and a book by Rachel Sheinkin, the musical debuted off-Broadway in 2005 before moving to Broadway, earning six Tony Award nominations and winning Best Book. It has since been performed internationally, including a London West End run in 2011.
LAMDA’s Principal and CEO, Professor Mark O’Thomas, said: “We’re delighted to be returning to the Edinburgh Fringe with a production that highlights the outstanding talent emerging from our MA and MFA Musical Theatre programmes.This opportunity offers our students an invaluable experience at the world’s largest arts festival and reflects our deep commitment to the future of musical theatre.”
The Director, Graham Hubbard, added: “This production holds special significance, arriving just two months after the passing of the brilliant composer William Finn, and marks a trio of anniversaries: A century since the humble beginnings of the Spelling Bee phenomenon, two decades since this delightful show first graced the stage, and 40 years since I proudly graduated from LAMDA.”
This new production features students from LAMDA’s MA/MFA Musical Theatre course, and is created in partnership and design collaboration with the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology (BIFT), whose students are designing and producing the costumes.
Multiple casts will alternate throughout the run. Cast member and MA Musical Theatre student, Neelam Patel, said: “As a cohort of students, and artists from all over the world, with diverse background and cultures, we eagerly look forward to sharing our unique interpretation of this show and to have the incredible opportunity to represent LAMDA at the Edinburgh Fringe. We are absolutely buzzing with excitement!”
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will premiere in the The Linbury Studio Theatre at LAMDA from 12 - 19 June with tickets now on sale, before transferring to Greenside at George Street’s Forest Theatre from 1 - 23 August (excluding 10 & 17 August).
Tickets for the Edinburgh performances can now be purchased on the Fringe Festival website.
Fringe Tickets
Join LAMDA’s Musical Theatre graduates in a new production of the Tony Award-winning hit, packed with hilarity and heart, where words mean everything – and audiences can take part. Ready to spell F-U-N?
