THEATRE

Arts After Hours will present the Tony-Award winning musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee June 10-19, 2011 at LynnArts on 25 Exchange Street, Lynn, MA 01901. Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for students/seniors. For more information, visit http://artsafterhours.com or call the box office at 781-205-4010. The show is PG-13.

This musical comedy send-up of a grade school spelling bee championship features six quirky “kids” (played by adults) and their three adult supervisors who learn that you don’t have to win to be a winner--or do you? Spelling Bee creatively tackles a variety of growing pains, including peanut allergies, absentee parents and the overwhelming pressures put on kids to succeed.

Arts After Hours’ production will feature a four-piece orchestra, full sets, lighting, and sound design. The award-winning ensemble cast features Sarah Belliveau (Peabody), Kevin Cirone (Woburn), Bobby Imperato (Saugus), Corey Jackson (Lynn), Sarah Jackson (Lynn), Shonna McEachern (Woburn), Michelle Merry (Revere), Nick Raponi (Peabody), and Todd Sandstrom (Newton). “Many of these actors have performed in professional and community theatre across the state,” says Corey Jackson. “We feel so fortunate to have attracted such talent to the North Shore for our inaugural production.”

In addition to the cast, guest celebrity spellers include The Honorable Mayor of Lynn Judith Flanagan Kennedy, Lucy Dearborn - Owner of Lucia Lighting and Design, Inc., Mark DeJoie - Owner and Managing Partner of The Blue Ox & Executive Director of SPIN, Stephen Hanley - Owner of Turbine Wine Bar, and David J. Solimine, Jr. of Solimine, Landergan & Richardson Funeral Homes

"The arts scene in Downtown Lynn is continuing to grow and is producing very professional work,” says Mayor Kennedy. “Why go into Boston when you can get a high-quality Broadway show right here in Downtown Lynn?"

Free parking is readily available near the theatre. For directions to LynnArts facility, visit http://lynnarts.org. For tickets, visit http://artsafterhours.com