"Directing a wonderful musical like The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is such a great experience. We have a great cast and this musical is very funny and entertaining," said Shannon Bradford, director and NOC music instructor.

The musical is based on a book by Rachel Sheinkin with music and lyrics by William Finnand. It is a tale of overachievers' angst chronicling the experience of six adolescent outsiders vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. The six spellers, in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser. Admission is free for all NOC faculty, staff and students; $5 for adults and $2 for non-NOC students.