The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

If you are hunting for things to do in Los Angeles this weekend that do not involve a cover charge or a parking garage, RUHS Theatre Arts has a good one: a full student production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning musical comedy, running October 1 through 4 at the Redondo Union High School Auditorium.

What the Show Is About

The musical follows six quirky middle schoolers as they compete in a regional spelling bee, trading funny and surprisingly touching stories about their home lives between rounds. The book won the Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award for Best Book, and the format has always leaned on audience participation: a handful of spectators get pulled up to spell alongside the cast, which means no two performances play out quite the same way. It is a format built for a school production, since the comedy comes from character work and quick timing rather than elaborate staging.

Showtimes and What to Know

The run includes evening performances October 1 through 3 at 7:00 PM and a Sunday matinee on October 4 at 2:00 PM. The Saturday evening and Sunday matinee shows are the better picks for families bringing younger kids along, since the October 1 and 2 performances are rated PG-13 and recommended for ages 13 and up: the script leans into mature language, sexual references, and puberty humor in those two showings. All patrons age 2 and up need a ticket regardless of date.

When: October 1-4, 2026 (evenings at 7:00 PM, Sunday matinee at 2:00 PM) Where: Redondo Union High School Auditorium, 1 Sea Hawk Way, Redondo Beach Price: $10 Tickets: Scanned on mobile devices at the door

Getting There and Practical Info

Doors open thirty minutes before each performance, and tickets get scanned straight off a phone at the Auditorium entrance, so there is no will-call line to worry about. Parking in the school's own lot is limited on a show night, so watch for posted permit signs and build in extra time to find street parking nearby. The production also uses flashing light effects at a few points, and House Management is set up to flag those moments ahead of time for anyone who needs the heads-up.

For anyone building out a full slate of LA events this weekend, pairing a Friday or Saturday evening show here with dinner in Redondo Beach's downtown strip makes for an easy, inexpensive night out that still feels like a real outing rather than just another streaming night at home.

Who Should Go

• Families looking for an affordable, PG-friendly show (pick the Saturday evening or Sunday matinee)
• Fans of word games, spelling bees, or the original Broadway cast recording
• Anyone curious about the current crop of student theater talent in the South Bay
• Supporters of RUHS Theatre Arts looking to catch a show before the run closes

Browse more comedy and theater events in LA for other upcoming shows around the city.