New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



The MAC Players at the Middetown Arts Center present "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"

Sunday, March 01, 2026 @ 2:00pm



Middletown Arts Center
36 Church Street, Middletown, NJ 07748

THIS EVENT HAS PASSED

An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves a champion! At least the losers get a juice box.

Director KATE CORDARO • Musical Director NICK JUPINKA • Choreographer SAMANTHA AMARAL



CAST

William Barfée – Julian Alejandro Baro

Olive Ostrovsky – Rach Phelan

Logainne Schwartzandgrunenierre (Schwartzy) – Zoe Seitz

Marcy Park Gloria – Gloria Licona Klein

Leaf Coneybear – Arron Little

Chip Tolentino – Charles Thomas Hughes

Douglas Panch – Clint Gilfillan

Rona Lisa Peretti – Cate Pasterchick

Mitch Mahoney – Zachary Conner



Music and Lyrics by WILLIAM FINN

Book by RACHEL SHEINKIN

Conceived by REBECCA FELDMAN

Additional Material by JAY REISS

Originally Directed on Broadway by JAMES LAPINE




For information on how your event can be listed, click here



 

Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month,
click here for info


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

The

The Barn Theatre presents Monty Python's "Spamalot"

(MONTVILLE, NJ) -- The Barn Theatre presents Monty Python's Spamalot weekends from May 15 through June 6, 2026. King Arthur's legendary quest for the Holy Grail gets a hilarious twist in this uproarious musical, lovingly ripped from the 1975 classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail.



Music

Music Mountain Theatre presents "Disaster!"

(LAMBERTVILLE, NJ) -- Music Mountain Theatre presents Disaster! weekends from May 15 through June 7, 2026. Earthquakes, tidal waves, infernos and the unforgettable songs of the '70s take center stage in Broadway’s side-splitting homage to classic disaster films.



Princeton

Princeton Summer Theater Announces 2026 Season

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Princeton Summer Theater has unveiled its 2026 subscription season which will run from June 11th to August 1st, featuring an exciting lineup of three mainstage pieces and a family-friendly musical. Productions include Barefoot in the Park, The 39 Steps, True West, and You're a Good Man Charlie Brown.



Shakespeare

Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents "Private Lives"

(MADISON, NJ) -- The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents Private Lives by Noël Coward from May 16 to June 7, 2026 in the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre. A razor-sharp comedy of manners, Private Lives crackles with Coward's signature wit and elegance.



Crossroads

Crossroads Theatre Company presents "Sizwe Banzi Is Dead"

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Crossroads Theatre Company presents Sizwe Bansi Is Dead from May 19 - June 14, 2026 at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center. This is a powerful, funny, and deeply moving story about identity, survival, and the extraordinary ingenuity of ordinary people navigating an unjust system.






 

Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month,
click here for info




LATEST COLUMNS


Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Junky Eyes" by Greg Amici

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "Junky Eyes," the latest video from Central Jersey-based singer-songwriter Greg Amici's 2025 solo debut LP, "Tragicomic."




Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 06/04/2026

"I am absolutely wonderful," laughed the always gracious and warm Bill Medley. "How are you doing? We're out here doing our thing, enjoying it, having a ball. I can't figure it out; well I know why people are showing up, they want to hear those songs." 




BlowUpRadio.com's New & Notable NJ Music 6/1/26

Lazlo, founder of BlowUpRadio.com (an online radio station based around New Jersey artists), shines a light on some of the many new releases from NJ based musicians each week with this column. This week Lazlo takes a look at new releases by Songbird, Allison Strong, Hexagon Cat, Sleep Station, and Lily Vakili. Plus a look back at "Everything Explodes" by Joshua Van Ness.




This Week in Music

Here is a look at shows taking place this week along with our featured listings and a look at some upcoming shows. New Jersey Stage offers previews of concerts throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas