Great Futures Productions Presents The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
July 28, 2026 | Member Submitted
Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning musical comedy comes to the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe
The Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe’s Great Futures Productions is thrilled to present The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, a hilarious musical about friendship, competition, and the power of words, running July 31 – August 2nd, 2026, at the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe Clubhouse in Kings Beach.
Winner of the Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for Best Book, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee has charmed audiences across the country with its effortless wit and humor. Featuring a fast-paced, wildly funny, and touching book by Rachel Sheinkin and a truly fresh and vibrant score by William Finn, this bee is one unforgettable experience.
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. The show is a riotous ride that includes audience participation. Four audience members, who can apply to be guest spellers starting 45 minutes before each show, will get selected to join the live performance. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a delightful den of comedic genius.
Great Futures Productions is the Children’s Theatre Company of the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe. Great Futures Productions creates extraordinary theatre experiences that educate, challenge, and inspire young people and their communities, unleashing the power of curiosity, empathy, and imagination. The program is dedicated to enriching the lives of young people by offering opportunities in the performing arts that engender self-confidence, inspire both individual expression and ensemble teamwork, and provide positive role modeling, thereby encouraging community outreach through quality theatrical productions for children and teens. Each year, Great Futures Productions produces five musicals and one play, including one musical produced in partnership with Incline High School, along with year-round classes in singing, dancing, and acting.
“I chose The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee because it’s one of those rare shows that lets young performers be genuinely, hilariously themselves on stage,” said Sara Turner Carbajal, Director of Great Futures Productions & Performing Arts at the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe. “Every character in this show is a little awkward, a little brilliant, and completely lovable, and that’s exactly the message we want our kids to walk away with: that the things that make you different are often the things that make you shine. It’s also just an incredibly fun show, for our performers and for our audiences, and after the year our cast has put in, they deserve a production that lets them be funny, be vulnerable, and take a real bow.”
Performances of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will take place Friday, July 31 at 7:00 PM, Saturday, August 1 at 2:00 PM, Saturday, August 1 at 7:00 PM, and Sunday, August 2 at 7:00 PM at the BGCNLT Clubhouse in Kings Beach at 8125 Steelhead Ave. Tickets are available at bgcnlt.org.
About Great Futures Productions
Great Futures Productions is the Children’s Theatre Company of the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe, dedicated to enriching the lives of young people through quality theatrical productions, classes, and community outreach in the performing arts.
About the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe
The Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe provides safe, structured, and enriching programming for youth ages 2–18 in Kings Beach, Tahoe City, Truckee, and Incline Village. The Club serves more than 1,700 youth or 1 in 4 local families. The Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe’s mission is to inspire and enable all youth, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible community members.
Media Contact
Siobhan Brady
Director of Donor & Community Engagement
Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe
sbrady@bgcnlt.org