Amber Riley, acclaimed for her Olivier Award-winning role in the revival of Dreamgirls, made a surprise appearance in the Off-Broadway hit musical, **The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee**, alongside her former Glee co-star Kevin McHale. On 4 March, Riley took to the stage at New World Stages in New York City as a guest speller, delighting fans with her wit and charm.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Amber-Riley-Kevin-McHale-031226-df31bbe2679a4caba57fa961127d7d7d.jpg)
Riley’s participation in the show added a layer of nostalgia for Glee fans, with the performance cleverly sprinkled with references from the series. Her entrance was facilitated by Lilli Cooper and Jason Kravits, who portray Rona Lisa Peretti and Vice Principal Douglas Panch, respectively, in the production. During the introduction, Cooper joked about Riley’s ambition to save up for a Mercedes, a playful nod to her character from Glee, immediately garnering laughter from the audience.
As the competition began, Cooper continued to fuel the Glee nostalgia, highlighting how “Ms. Riley was pressured by one of the members of her Glee Club to spell tonight.” McHale, who has taken on the role of Leaf Coneybear in the show, feigned innocence, pretending to detach himself from any responsibility for the friendly pressure to participate.
**The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee** is known for its unique format, inviting four audience members on stage at each performance to join the cast in a chaotic and humorous spelling showdown. The popular show has welcomed several celebrity guest spellers since its revival, including well-known figures like Daniel Radcliffe and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
During her time on stage, Riley demonstrated her spelling prowess by successfully spelling the word “invincible,” which Kravits humorously described as “seemingly incapable of being defeated.” Riley’s confident response—”Sounds like me”—was met with applause, especially once Kravits rattled off her significant achievements on various competition shows, including winning Family Feud and Dancing with the Stars.
However, the fun was short-lived as Riley’s luck ran out when she stumbled on the word “puerilism”—defined as the exhibition of childish behaviour by an adult. Following her elimination, she received a playful consolation prize of a juice box, a tradition for guest spellers.
Once the show concluded, Riley and McHale exchanged fond memories on stage, commemorating the evening with photos. Riley expressed her joy on Instagram, saying, “I had an amazing time being a guest speller at the Bee!” She praised the incredible cast and encouraged her followers to see the show, calling it a must-watch for anyone in New York City. McHale reciprocated her sentiments, calling it “a very special night.”
The bond between Riley and McHale extends back to their time on Glee, which aired for six seasons from 2009 to 2015. Both stars have since pursued successful careers in various entertainment fields, with McHale and co-star Jenna Ushkowitz launching a rewatch podcast titled **And That’s What You REALLY Missed**.
Meanwhile, other Glee alumni are actively performing on Broadway, with Lea Michele starring in **Chess**, Darren Criss in **Maybe Happy Ending**, and Jonathan Groff in **Just in Time**. It’s noteworthy that Matthew Morrison is set to step into Groff’s role beginning 1 April.
As the Off-Broadway revival of **The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee** continues, tickets are now available for those eager to experience the laughter and excitement that the musical offers. With its combination of clever writing, engaging performances, and the occasional celebrity speller, it stands out as a captivating theatre experience in New York’s vibrant arts scene.