Words, worlds collide in the ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ at KU Theatre

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas’ William Inge Memorial Theatre will be transformed into a space for nervous, sweaty and sometimes ornery junior high spelling bee contestants in the University Theatre’s production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” It will also be drenched in juice box and ‘90s aesthetic. 

Theresa Buchheister, a KU lecturer who directs and produces new work in New York City, shares the directing role with Katherine Leverenz, last seen as the Leading Player in the University Theatre’s spring 2025 production of "Pippin." Leverenz also serves as the choreographer, incorporating high-energy dance numbers and physical comedy into the world of the bee. The musical by the late William Finn ("Falsettos," "A New Brain") features piano accompaniment by Jeremy Watson. Watson joined the Department of Theatre & Dance as a full-time faculty member this fall. 

Playing Oct. 24 through Nov. 2 at Murphy Hall, this Tony Award-winning musical will be complemented by world-building experiences and displays in the hallway leading to the Inge Theatre. The costumes, complete with friendship bracelets, are designed by KU faculty member Erin Barnett. Many students are participating in leadership roles.

"While the original work I create is much more dark and disgusting, I am incredibly drawn to this show because of its belief and insistence that people can be their own unique selves, not striving to be basic but striving to be authentic, even within the container of an institution like a spelling bee. It has been a truly exciting collaboration with this team to put our own stamp on a 21st century favorite, knowing we are making something together that nobody else has yet made nor ever will make in the future," Buchheister said.

"This show explores themes of familial ties, identity and what it means to be a winner (or not). This cast has gone above and beyond in curating each of the characters to be a representation of many of the feelings and moments we all can relate to. Our bee is unlike any other, so audiences should expect to laugh, cry, sing along and maybe spell a couple of words wrong in the meantime,” Leverenz said.

For more information or tickets to “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” with book by Rachel Sheinkin and conceived by Rebecca Feldman, please visit the show's web page, the Murphy Hall box office noon-5 p.m. weekdays, or call 785-864-3982. The show is licensed by Musical Theatre International.
 
The creative team is composed of Katie Cooley, master of fine arts student in scenography, as scenic designer; Sean Ingram, junior in theater design from Shawnee, as lighting designer; Kitty Corum, master of arts student, as sound designer; James Kensinger, senior in theatre from Topeka, as dramaturg; and Jordan Cabuay, junior in finance from Olathe, as stage manager.
 
This cast is bringing new perspectives and casting their own unique light through the prisms of these characters, as did the original cast off-Broadway in New York City, Buchheister said. Cast members are Jack Yampolsky, a senior in journalism from Scottsdale, Arizona, as Chip Tolentino; Maya Welde, a senior in theatre performance and Spanish from Overland Park, as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere; Paul Ruf, senior in accounting from Overland Park, as Leaf Coneybear; Brandon Heflin, senior in biochemistry from Olathe, as William Barfee; Darryl Brundidge Jr., senior in theatre from Pensacola, Florida, as Marcy Park; Natalie Loftus, junior in theatre and English from Hays, as Olive Ostrovsky; Amy Schoelen, junior in communications from Edmond, Oklahoma, as Rona Lisa Perretti; Casey Schenk, senior in theatre performance and math from Topeka, as Vice Principal Douglas Panch; and Essy Siegel, senior in theatre and strategic communication from Kansas City, Missouri, as Mitch Mahoney. Understudies are Kylee Chee, first-year student in film & media from Lawrence; Zach Newkirk, junior in journalism from Overland Park; Adelle Spiess, first-year student in theatre and environmental studies from Lawrence, and Christian Steger, first-year student in film & media studies from Olathe.

About the directors: 

Theresa Buchheister is an artistic director, curator, theater maker (writer, director, performer, producer, designer) and voiceover artist. They were in New York from 2004-2024 and during that time founded the experimental theatre company Title:Point; The Exponential Festival in Brooklyn, New York; Vital Joint; the short-form festival ?!:New Works and the arts gathering SalOn! They also received an Obie Award for their time as artistic director of The Brick Theater, was a collective member of DIY venue Silent Barn, was a frequent collaborator of Jeff Stark, Night Market and Secret Parks, performed in Richard Foreman's "The Gods are Pounding My Head (aka Lumberjack Messiah)", and has directed audiobooks, cartoons and podcasts. Currently, they live in Lawrence, teaching at KU and direct independent projects.

Katherine Leverenz, a KU student in finance expected to earn her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre in fall 2025, is making her directorial and choreographic debut with this production. Leverenz has performed in various roles at KU, including "Pippin" (Leading Player), "Ordinary Days" (Claire), "Indecent" (Vera, The Elder), "Cabaret" (Sally Bowles), "Head Over Heels" (Dance Captain, Ensemble), and several Jayhawk Performance Lab showings. She also served as a stage manager for the Spring Dance Showcase and an assistant stage manager for the Fall Dance Showcase and KU Opera’s "Sweeney Todd." She was the founder and co-president of KU’s inaugural chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, an international theatre and dance honors society. When not busy in the department, Leverenz works for the Department of Justice in Kansas City and University Admissions for KU. 
 
The University Theatre is a production wing of the Department of Theatre & Dance, offering public productions during the academic year. Established in 1923, the Department of Theatre merged with the Department of Dance in 2018. The University Theatre season is funded in part by Student Senate fees. Additional support is provided by Truity Credit Union.  

The department is one of three departments in the School of the Arts. As part of the KU College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the School of the Arts offers fresh possibilities for collaboration between the arts and the humanities, sciences, social sciences, international and interdisciplinary studies.