This Bee gets and A

I had a little— well—crush from afar on Nicole Werner when she was doing theater grad work at SDSU, so it was completely cool to see her pop up in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (the very funny North Coast Repertory Theatre musical whose run was extended before the show even opened). Werner plays 13-year-old Olive Ostrovsky, who devours the dictionary at every waking moment, including bathroom breaks— even so, Olive is probably the least wacko of the would-be champs, whose ranks include an eighth-grade gaystraight-alliance official, Rosa Parks’ über-precocious grand-niece and even a couple of you. Director Rick Simas has Melinda Gilb, Phil Johnson and Robert Barry Fleming on all cylinders as the dysfunctional adults who run the contest, and Omri Schein is a standout as the portly, disgruntled William Barfee, who spells words at the direction of his magic foot. Librettist Rachel Sheinkin and composer William Finn tell us what became of these kids in the show’s final scene—those five minutes are the most poignant in the show. Through Aug. 3 at North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987- D Lomas Santa Fe Drive in Solana Beach. $32-$50. northcoastrep.org

OPENING

Hairspray: High-schooler Tracy Turnblad sets racist stereotypes on their heads in Baltimore in 1962. Produced by The San Diego Repertory Theatre, it opens July 17 at The Lyceum, 79 Horton Plaza, Downtown. $34-$45. sdrep.org

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Robin and the 7 Hoods: The Robin Hood legend is transplanted to a 1930s Chicago gangland setting. Now in previews, it opens July 30 at The Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. $68-$81. oldglobe.org

NOW PLAYING

Smoke on the Mountain: The Great Depression is coming to an end, and the Sanders Family Singers are back on the road—’sep that the bus just broke down. Produced by Lamb’s Players Theatre, it runs through July 18 at the Horton Grand Theatre, 444 Fourth Ave., Downtown. $26-$48. lambsplayers.org

Parasite Drag: Two estranged brothers are forced to make arrangements for their sister, a homeless drug addict. Produced by Ion Theatre Company, it runs through July 21 at BLK BOX @ 6th & Penn, 3704 Sixth Ave. in Hillcrest. $15-$25. iontheatre.com

[title of show]: Four wannabes slave away on a new musical in homage to Broadway. Through Aug. 8 at Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd. in University Heights. $33-$35. diversionary.org

Harvey: Can Elwood P. Dowd help it if his best friend happens to be a 6- foot-tall invisible rabbit? Produced by Lamb’s Players Theatre, it runs through Aug. 22 at the Ione and Paul Harter Stage, 1142 Orange Ave. in Coronado. $28-$56. lambsplayers.org

Night of the Laughing Dead: A bunch of crazoids need your help in solving a murder on the set of a horror flick. Produced by Mystery Theatre Café, it runs though Aug. 28 at Imperial House Restaurant, 515 Kalmia St. in Bankers Hill. $59.50 including dinner. mysterycafe.net

King Lear: The aging regent seeks to bequeath his kingdom to his three daughters in proportion to their love for him. Through Sept. 23 at The Old Globe Theatre’s Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. $29-$56. oldglobe.org

This Bee gets and A

The very funny North Coast Repertory Theatre's The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and more San Diego Theater listings

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