Original Broadway Cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
The Spelling Rules/My Favorite Moment of the Bee 1
[PANCH, spoken]
Now for the official spelling bee rules:
A speller

May ask questions

About the word's pronunciation or definition

It's use in a sentence

And it's language of origin

Once you start to spell a word, you may start over— 

[SPELLERS]
A speller

May ask questions


Definition

In a sentence!

Language of origin[PANCH & IMPATIENT SPELLERS]
But the sequences of letters already spoken
May not be changed
[RONA, spoken]
Whoa! Whoa![RONA]
If you misspell a word

We will ring

The bell 
[SPELLERS]
Misspell a word

You will ring[Panch rings bell.]

[RONA]
And the comfort couns'lor

[MITCH, spoken]
Mitch Mahoney

[SPELLERS]
Mitch Mahoney

[RONA]
Will escort you offstage!

[PANCH, spoken]
Is that understood spellers?
[SPELLERS]
Yes

[RONA]
Before anyone is disqualified
And before proceedings turn snide
And contestants turn nasty
I soberly confide:

In the moment before the bee
Claims its first catastrophe
I love what I see:
Kids acting innocently
It's my favorite moment of the bee
Rona's favorite moment of the bee