GO SEE "SPELLING BEE" IN DC

RUN, DON’T WALK TO SEE THIS AMAZING PRODUCTION.

Background: As a NY native eagerly searching for more and more theatre I was extremely pleased when I found out they were doing a RENT production with a new symphonic orchestration last year featuring some of my favorite Broadway stars. Despite some mic issues, it was an amazing production and I knew I had to come back to see some fully staged performances too. So when they announced this current season included Spelling Bee (which I’ve never seen but always wanted to), the world premiere of Schmigadoon (one of my fave MT TV shows), and Legally Blonde (one of my favorite HS shows I’ve done - I was the music director and conductor) I knew I had to get a subscription for this stacked season. And then they announced the cast for Spelling Bee and I was gagged. I could not WAIT to see it despite already having several tickets to amazing shows in NYC.

Tonight's show: Oh boy. I have seen so many shows before, but never experienced a night like tonight. Like I said the main cast alone sold me on the tickets and I was happy (as a Gleek) to finally see Kevin on stage doing theatre. He played the part of William so well. That boy needs to be on a Broadway stage - STAT. There were no weak links in the cast and every single one of them embodied their characters so flawlessly. I could go off about each one individually but this post is too long as it is lol. But to top it off, there were 4 guest contests - I believe 2 of them were actually random audience members (there was a drawing you could enter in the lobby) - and also celebrities Carla Hall and freaking Cobie Smulders!!!! (Yes mall-loving (which they humorously referenced) Robin Scherbatsky / Maria Hill). I could not stop laughing the entire show. And I love the updated references to current political topics (banning books in libraries, drag brunch cancelled (because drag queens are "dangerous" to children), Project 2025, Sasha Obama as a future president) It was worth the early/late Amtrak trains there and back. I'm on the return train now and cannot stop smiling.

Bonus: All the casts members stagedoored and took their times to chat and take pics with anyone who asked kindly. Ben Platt was there too with his dad (and other family and friends of Beanie & Noah). I got to say "I can't wait for the Wicked movie" to Marc Platt which was something I never thought I'd be able to do haha. I would've said Hi to Ben too, but he was with friends and family chilling and really just there to support his HUSBAND (Noah said he's been enjoying saying that a lot lately), so I let him just chill and didn't want to obsess lol.

Conclusion: GO SEE THIS SHOW! Only 1 week left to see this amazing cast! Kevin said in his Glee recap podcast with Jenna that he'd do this show in NY too if it transferred and honestly with the caliber/star power of this cast it can have a very healthy run on Broadway (maybe as a limited engagement) or even Off-Broadway for cheaper operating costs and a rotating cast of high star power (allá LSOH, etc).

If it wasn't obvious yet, I think you should really see this show and I'm praying for a transfer considering how cheap it can run and how amazing the cast is.