The Haywood Arts Regional Theater will present “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” opening on Sept. 30 for a three-week run. The original production opened on Broadway in April 2005 to rave reviews and ran for over three years.

The show is set at a fictional middle school spelling bee and features six quirky finalists. These are kids role’s played by adults, and this is a PG-13 show. It is not “children’s theater.”  The songs are fun, and sometimes a bit bawdy. The spelling bee itself is hysterical but along the way you come to really care about the contestants and who will win. This irresistible combination makes it a show people tend to want to see more than once, as it is also filled with a dash of improv which makes each performance unique.  

Performances are Sept. 30, Oct. 1, 6 to 8 and 13 to 15 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 2, 9 and 16 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and $8 for students. $5 discount tickets for students are available for Thursday and Sunday performances.

828.456.6322 or www.harttheatre.com.