Years after performing as a middle schooler in a production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” senior Judy Keefe returns to the musical as a main character in Glenbrook North’s fall musical.

“I was in a production of it when I was in seventh or eighth grade, and then it was my favorite after that, and I really wanted to do it again,” Keefe said. 

“Spelling Bee” is about a group of kids who all have their own individual quirks and identities, and come together in a big spelling bee competition. The audience learns about what is going on in the contestants’ minds and the different experiences they have in adolescence.

“It’s basically a live spelling bee happening on stage right in front of the audience that the audience is even sort of a part of in ways that makes it really cool,” theater director Tim Broeker said.

Four audience members will be chosen to come up on stage and spell in the bee at each performance.

As the audience members are participating in the bee, they get to interact with the characters on stage by performing one or two songs and learning choreography, choir director Kelsey Nichols said.

According to Broeker, “Spelling Bee” is a little bit different from other shows because it has an audience participation element, which comes with animprovised element where things are changing all the time and the actors are able to think on their feet, adding kind of a new style to theater.

The main characters are kids, but this is not a kid’s show by any means, Broeker said.

“I think kids could enjoy it, but there is a lot of adult humor [and] adult jokes that happen in it too, which is kind of fun because it appeals to everyone,” said Broeker. “And so I think that’s maybe a little bit more unique about it too.”

According to senior Avi Oldani, tackling adult themes goes to show that, even as a kid, you are going to face these problems that adults would face.

“I think it’s really cool that the characters all have their own stories and whatnot,” said Oldani. “There’s definitely more that are a bit more heart-wrenching than the others. And it tackles some heavy topics.”

“Spelling Bee” is double-castand isscheduled to run from Oct. 1 to Oct. 3 at 7 p.m., along with a 2 p.m. performance on Oct. 3. Tickets can be purchased on cur8.com, or students can get a free ticket from the Student Activities Office if they have an activity pass.

“It was one of the first musicals that ever made me cry, so it always stuck with me for that,” Keefe said.

“[The characters] all have the same goal of winning the spelling bee, but they all have different individual reasons, so it’s like you get to see how everyone around you has a different reason for what they do,” Keefe said.