Should High Schools Perform ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee?’ Let’s Talk About It.
Cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Photo: Joan Marcus)
by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder
I love The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. I’ve seen it done brilliantly, I’ve watched audiences laugh until they cry, and I’ve left the theater thinking, That’s exactly what high school theatre should be—smart, weird, heartfelt, and fun. It’s a great show. Small cast. Minimal tech. Big emotions. But before you add it to your school’s season, take a breath.
Because here’s the reality. Just because a show feels like a good fit doesn’t mean it’s going to fly in your school community. And Spelling Bee has been canceled at schools because people got upset about the content. Not necessarily because of what it is, but because of what people think it is.
Let’s break it down.
Why the backlash?
The show is rated PG-13, and that’s fair. One of the characters sings a song about getting a very inconvenient… physical reaction while competing in the bee. It’s funny. It’s awkward. It’s high school. But yeah, it’s also about puberty, and that’s apparently still controversial in 2025.
There’s also some real emotional depth. Kids in the show deal with abandonment, perfectionism, pressure from parents, loneliness. They’re quirky and anxious and brilliant and flawed. It’s actually kind of perfect for teens because it’s about teens.
But for some people, the biggest red flag is the character Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, who has two overbearing gay dads. They’re loud, they’re loving, and they are absolutely part of the story.
And here’s where we get honest. That’s been enough to get this show pulled from school stages. Not because it’s graphic or inappropriate, but because two gay dads exist in it. That’s it. That’s the controversy.
It really happened.
In 2023, Cardinal High School in Ohio initially canceled its production of Spelling Bee after complaints about the show's content. There was enough uproar from the community that the show was pulled, even after scripts had been distributed. It wasn’t until the show's creators got involved and the national media caught on that the decision was reversed and the students were allowed to perform, with revisions.
That kind of public rollercoaster? It’s exhausting. And it’s happening more than you think.
There’s no school edition.
This is important. There is no “high school version” of Spelling Bee. No “junior” edition. No alternate script. If you license it, you’re getting the full show. The one written for Broadway. MTI might allow some edits if you ask nicely and explain your reasoning, but nothing is pre-approved or modified for schools.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. But you should know what you’re signing up for.
So… should you do it?
Honestly? Maybe. If your administration is supportive, your community is open-minded, and your students are up for something a little bold and a little weird, this show can be magic. It’s a celebration of outcasts and overachievers. It’s full of heart and humor and incredible songs. It’s also one of the rare musicals where every kid gets their moment. That’s a gift.
But if your school has a track record of pulling the plug the second someone says the word “inappropriate,” then yeah, it might be a risk. And that risk might not be worth it for you, your students, or your peace of mind.
What to do if you’re on the fence
Read the script. Meet with your admin. Talk to your cast and your community. Don’t go in blind. And if you do decide to move forward, do it with your eyes open and your spine straight. Don’t cut the gay dads unless you’re prepared to tell your students why. Don’t skip the hard stuff because you’re scared. Contextualize it. Guide it. Teach it.
Because here’s the truth. Spelling Bee isn’t inappropriate. It’s honest. It’s emotional. It’s hilarious. And yes, it’s weird. But weird in a way that feels really human and exactly how the late-great William Finn wanted it.
It’s not for every school. But when it works? It works beautifully.