T-H-E S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G B-E-E

Can you spell F-U-N? "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" comes to Shea's Performing Arts Center from Tuesday, Jan. 15 through Sunday, Jan. 20.

Contestants of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" will be competing at Shea's Performing Arts Center from Tuesday, Jan. 15 through Sunday, Jan. 20 in this first national tour of the Broadway Tony Award-winning musical comedy.

"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" finds six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, who learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser. This tuneful, offbeat and at times heartwarming show offers audiences the opportunity (strictly voluntary) to become part of the action as on-stage spellers.

The musical, conceived by Rebecca Feldman, with additional material written by Jay Reiss, features music and lyrics by Tony Award-winner William Finn ("Falsettos," "Elegies," "A New Brain") and Tony Award-winning book by Rachel Sheinkin. "Spelling Bee" is directed by James Lapine. The production features Katie Boren (Marcy Park), Miguel Cervantes (Chip Tolentino), Alan H. Green (Mitch Mahoney), James Kall (Douglas Panch), Eric Petersen (William Barfee), Jennifer Simard (Rona Lisa Peretti), Sarah Stiles (Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre), Lauren Worsham (Olive Ostrovsky) and Michael Zahler (Leaf Coney bear).

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday at 646 Main St., Buffalo. Tickets are $22.50 to $52.50 and are available by calling Ticketmaster at 852-5000, online at www.sheas.org or at the Shea's ticket office at 650 Main St.