GULF SHORES, Ala. — SummerTide Theatre, the professional summer theater of The University of Alabama, returns for its seventh year to the George C. Meyer Performing Arts Center (home of the South Baldwin Community Theatre) with the most lovable bunch of young geeks you will ever meet, as they compete to become reigning champion of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

Running June 4 through July 2, performances are Tuesdays through Sundays at 8 p.m.

With music and lyrics by William Finn and a book by Rachel Sheinkin, Broadway’s Tony Award-winning musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” centers around a fictional spelling bee set in the geographically ambiguous Putnam Valley Middle School.

Six quirky yet charming overachievers, in the throes of their teenage years and 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.

Directed by Professor of Theatre and Founding Chairman of the UA Department of Theatre and Dance Dr. Edmond Williams, the cast of spellers, in alphabetical order, include Bobby Becher (from Huntsville) as Leaf Coneybear, Bentley Black (Germantown, Tenn.) as Chip Tolentino, Katie Burton (Trussville) as Marcy Park, Lawson Hangartner (Huntsville) as William Barfée, Erica Hansen (Huntsville) as Olive Ostrovsky and Caroline D. Schmidt (Mandeville, La.) as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere.

Rounding out the cast, as the “adults,” is Dianna Duffy (La Place, La.) as Rona Lisa Perretti, Michael Luwoye (Huntsville) as Mitch Mahoney and Nicholas J. Shabel (Cullman) as Vice Principal Douglas Panch.

The musical direction of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is by Raphael Crystal, with choreography by Rita Snyder.

Costume design is by Donna Meester, scenic and lighting design is by Bill Teague.

Russell L. Scott serves as technical director, with William A. Martin as vocal coach and Karen Baker as stage manager.

Percussion is provided by Elliott Herrin.

SummerTide Theatre’s Business Manager is Christopher M. Montpetit.

Since 2004, The University of Alabama’s College of Arts and Sciences Department of Theatre and Dance has presented professional theater in Gulf Shores. These productions are designed and directed by UA professors, and feature UA students from the musical theatre program.

Previous years have been very successful in attracting and pleasing audiences from south Alabama and all over the United States.

Conceived by Rebecca Feldman, with additional material by Jay Reiss, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” was originally produced on Broadway by David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whitman, Patrick Catullo, Barrington Stage Co. and Second Stage Theatre.

Based upon “C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E,” an original play by The Farm, the Barrington Stage Co. workshop was originally co-directed by Michael Barakiva and Rebecca Feldman.

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is produced through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

Tickets may be purchased online by visiting www.summertide.org, or by contacting the box office at (251) 968-6721.

Starting Tuesday, the box office will be open from noon to 8 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.

Contact the box office for more information on group rates and ticket availability.

The George C. Meyer Performing Arts Center is located at 2022 W. Second St. in Gulf Shores.

Tickets prices are $17 for adults and $10 for anyone age 12 and under.

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

SummerTide Theatre is made possible by Mr. Clark West, The University of Alabama National Alumni Association, The University of Alabama Office of the Provost, The University of Alabama College of Arts and Sciences, the George C. Meyer Foundation, the Alabama Credit Union, and Capstone Village.

Additional support is provided by the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau, Bama Breakfast Group, Bryant Bank, Tracey and James Roberts, South Baldwin Community Theatre, Sunset Properties and Robert A. Wright.

The UA Department of Theatre and Dance is part of the College of Arts and Sciences, UA’s largest division with 6,600 students and 360 faculty members. It is the largest liberal arts college in Alabama.