ADA - The Ohio Northern University Freed Center for the Performing Arts presents "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" on Sept. 15-18 at 7:30 p.m. with two matinee showings on Sep. 17-18 at 2 p.m.

Conceived by Rebecca Feldman, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" is a one-act musical comedy centering on a fictional spelling bee set in the geographically ambiguous Putnam Valley Middle School, where six quirky adolescents compete in a competition run by three equally quirky adults.

ONU student cast members are Rebecca Brunelle, a senior communications arts major from Lima, Ohio, who plays Olive Ovstrosky; Matthew Rarey, a junior communications arts major from Findlay, Ohio, who plays Leaf Coneybear; Sean Varga, a sophomore communication arts major from Olmstead Falls, Ohio, who plays William Barfee; Trevor Dorner, a freshman musical theatre major from Perrysburg, Ohio, who plays Chip Tolentino; Hayley Reynolds, a sophomore communication arts major from Sylvania, Ohio, who plays Loganne Schwartzandgrubenniere; and Danelle Rivera, a senior communication arts major from Harlington, Texas, who plays Marcy Park.

Four audience members will be introduced to the cast at the beginning of the show and engage in non-acting roles as additional spelling bee contestants, giving the show some originality during each of the productions.

"Spelling Bee" is directed by Gwen Arment, a Broadway-credited director who has returned to ONU after directing "Urinetown" for the Freed Center in 2010. Assisting Arment as musical director will be Michael A. Jordan, part-time lecturer in music at ONU.

Because "Spelling Bee" features adult content, the Freed Center recommends that no one under age 16 attend this production.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and non-ONU students, and $9 for children. Tickets are on sale now. The Freed Center box office is open Monday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Phone orders are accepted with American Express, MasterCard, VISA or Discover by calling 419-772-1900. Tickets also are available online at www.freedcenter.com.