AUBURN — Your word is “entertainment,” and that’s what Community Little Theater aims to deliver in its production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” opening April 20 for a two-weekend run.

It’s a one-act musical comedy in which six adults play middle-school students who undergo all the joys and fears of adolescence through a spelling competition.

Not only do several veterans and a couple of newcomers to the CLT stage vie for spelling bee honors, but four audience members get a chance to compete on-stage in each performance.

“The cast has to be very creative. It’s a different show every night,“ said Paul G. Caron, who directs “Spelling Bee.” Although this show was nominated for six Tonys in 2005, and won two including Best Book, Caron said it isn’t widely known, but it’s catching on and being produced often around the country.

The adults take on roles of kids in fifth to eighth grade at a fictional school. They portray a cross-section of young people who are just beginning to “think outside themselves as they experience the angst of growing up,” Caron said. This leads to all kinds of humorous, emotional and touching situations.

Playing spelling bee contestants are Michael Litchfield, Max Middleton, Harmony Brown, Rebecca Singer, Gerry Therrien and Katie St. Pierre.

Each speller has a quirky characteristic that comes out in his or her actions and in scenes from their pasts and their imaginations.

Chip Tolentino (played by Litchfield) is a Boy Scout and last year’s spelling bee champion. He expects things to come easily, but finds puberty hitting at an inopportune moment.

Olive Dostoevsky (played by St. Pierre) is a newcomer to competitive spelling. Her mother is in an ashram in India and her father is working late, as usual, but is trying to arrive sometime during the bee.

William Barfee (played by Therrien) was a finalist last year but was eliminated due to an allergic reaction to peanuts. His famous “Magic Foot” method of spelling has boosted him to spelling glory.

Middleton plays Leaf Coneybear, who comes from a large family of former hippies and makes his own clothes. He spells words correctly while in a trance.

Harmony Brown, who is new to CLT, portrays Marcy Park, an overachiever who is never allowed to cry.

Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre (played by Singer) is the youngest and most politically aware speller who has two overbearing homosexual fathers.

CLT veteran Eileen Messina portrays Rona Lisa Peretti, spelling bee coordinator and moderator. Rona is a sweet woman who loves children, but can be very stern when it comes to dealing with Vice Principal Panch, who has feelings for her which she doesn’t openly return.

Roger Philippon, also a veteran of the CLT stage, plays Panch, who gives the words to spell, their definitions and  sentences, and is returning as a judge after “the incident“ of five years earlier. Glenn Atkins plays Mitch Mahoney, the comfort counselor.

Volunteers from the audience get a share of easy-to-impossible words on their way to elimination throughout the show.

Rebecca Caron is musical director for “Spelling Bee.” She was musical director for the recent Monmouth Community Players production of “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” and CLT’s “It’s a Grand Night for Singing.”

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” has a five-piece orchestra. Musical numbers include “Pandemonium,” “I’m Not That Smart,” “The I Love You Song” and several “Goodbye” songs.

Numerous celebrities have participated as volunteers in productions of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” around the country. In 2007, Julie Andrews was one of the spellers picked from the audience. What word tripped her up? “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” of course.

Show dates

WHAT: “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”

WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 20-21 and 27-28; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26; and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 22 and 29.

WHERE: Great Falls Arts Center on Academy Street, Auburn. Call 783-0958 or visit www.laclt.com.

PLEASE NOTE: Initial show dates were changed so CLT could participate in the Lewiston Auburn Film Festival. If your previously purchased tickets or confirmations are for dates other than those listed, no need to call. Your tickets and seating assignments will be honored for the correct date. Or you may call the box office to change the date and time; or visit CLT’s website.