Seoul Players presents hit Broadway musical
By John Redmond
Contributing Writer
The Seoul Players will present the hit Broadway musical "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" over the next two weeks at Roofers in Itaewon.
Set in the timeless Putnam Valley Middle School, the musical comedy is a one-act piece (with a brief refreshments break) that centers around a fictional spelling bee.
Six quirky kids played by adults compete in the bee, including a boy with a magic foot, a girl with two ultra conservative dads and a genius who speaks six languages.
The bee is overseen by three equally eccentric adults who invite four audience members to participate at each performance.
Winner of two Tony Awards, Spelling Bee is a hilarious, light-hearted musical for everyone who's lived through the pains of adolescence.
Established in 2001 as a non-profit organization, Seoul Players is an English-speaking community theater company in Seoul consisting of expats and Koreans who delight in bringing English-language theater to audiences in Seoul.
Spelling Bee opened on Broadway in 2005, and was nominated for six Tony Awards, winning two: Best Book & Best Featured Actor in a Musical.
The music and lyrics are by William Finn (best known for Falsettos), the book is by Rachael Sheinkin, and it is conceived by Rebecca Feldman. The production ran in Korea in 2007, entirely in Korean aside from the words spelled in the bee.
Currently, there are hundreds of productions of the show around the world, including a national U.S. tour. This is the first time Spelling Bee has played in Seoul in English.
Roofers is a new bar and cultural space in Itaewon. Opened in the summer of 2009, Roofers plays host to a variety of regular and one-off events, including theater, music and comedy.
The bar also serves a wide range of food, from burgers and curries to pizzas and sandwiches, catering to carnivores and vegetarians alike.
The performances are every Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m. up to June 13.
For information contact Margaret Whittum on 010 - 7214 - 2534 or email
The entry fee is 10,000 won and reservations are recommended as seating is limited.
Directions to Roofers: Leave Itaewon station (line 6) from exit 3, walk straight one block, turn right at Dunkin Donuts. Walk up the hill two blocks. Roofers is on the right, across from the Foreign Food Mart, on the third floor.