OBSESSED!: The Secrets of the "Bee" Revealed!

www.playbill.com/video Celia Keenan-Bolger ("The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee", "Les Misérables") joins Seth to chat about the good works of the New York Civil Liberties Union and reflect back on a weird and inaccurate lyric from "Spelling Bee" as well as the ten-year-old spelling whiz who caused problems in the "fixed" audience participation part of the show. Celia caps her visit with a little Éponine and a performance of "Les
Miz"'s "On My Own," dedicated to her former ten-year-old self.

[@shannongallagher2446]

When a school near me did spelling bee they couldn't get this girl out for like 20 minutes so finally they gave her the word their/there/they're and she asked for the use in a sentence and the guy was like "there is no way they're going to get their word right"

[@vartistry7171]

Shannon Gallagher Did they ask for the definition?

[@JosephJohnson-gu5fw]

Saw her in 2007 as eponine. She brought me to tears. She was meek, mousey, and gave it something I'd not heard or seen in any other.

[@AddisonRamirez]

i love her so much. she's what eponine is supposed to sound like. and, of course, she was absolutely perfect as olive. i would watch her in anything she did.

[@sarahhalasz2258]

Omg I love her and Andrew so much! So down to earth and talented :)

[@cbh4166]

she has the cutest nose

[@graemem5564]

I was expecting something more from the way they built that up.

[@ScarletSheppard]

Yeah, Les Mis is almost opera. Her sound made perfect sense in Spelling Bee, of course.

[@broadwayfan66]

I feel like she's just not warmed up.

[@ScarletSheppard]

I see what you mean, but I think it's a choice/part of her charm. I think the parts of her performance deemed technically "unrefined" by people who study voice, primarily, draw audiences in and help them believe her as a real person on stage. I'll bet she has the ability to turn it on and off. See if you can find videos of her as Johanna in Sweeney Todd at the Kennedy Center, much more classical there. Sorry for the rant, I just love this stuff!

[@dmallett2380]

Appleton wisconsin....their bath and body works sucks....

[@cbh4166]

D snacks peach bellini!

[@birdieaddictedtodumplings]

CB H where is my peach bellini ?!

[@frenchfilmbug2]

She kinda reminds me of Emma Stone--if Emma could sing amazingly and were on Broadway. You rock Celia :)

[@milesallen6827]

Emma Stone was a replacement for Michelle Williams in Cabaret on Broadway after this video I think

[@livelaughlove0209]

*holy shit it's olive*

[@ryebread9299]

“Show closed dear”

[@awpicteesh]

Tomorrow night is closing night of our production of Spelling Bee where I am playing Olive, and I JUST got cast as Eponine and will be moving straight on to that afterwards. I feel like I am living Celia’s life it’s so crazy.

[@kmart3453]

Someone explain to me how she played Johanna Barker AND Éponine? They're completely different voice types and I'm confused

[@TeddyLeitner]

Big range

[@maniactress]

She seems like the coolest, nicest person.

[@user-go7hd8jq6f]

My fav show

[@whatdoyousuppose]

She is just adorable :)

[@jadejaguar69]

Wow that lysergic acid diethylamide rolled off her tongue

[@sarahmoore8219]

it was flawless on stage.

[@broadwayboundguy]

Love. Her.

[@ifinditamazing]

I feel like if Emma Stone was a broadway singer/actress, she would be Celia.

[@hermancantdraw12]

She is quite shouty

[@darcyhernandez5329]

She's great and all that jazz, BUT...why is this being performed in a lower key? -.-

[@adamNAnutshell]

I HAVE to work with her one day!!!!!

[@MelchiGabor1]

F*ck yeah, saw her in both!

[@Jerendelle]

What key is this in...? It seems awfully LOW!

[@Keith_Petersen_Actor]

Idk why but its a half step down. Celia must be tired, cause that bitch belts F#s like they ain't show

[@maddierivers485]

She better win the tony tomorrow. Just saying

[@leannelliedavis5782]

Girl got pipes.

[@MrAaronWomball]

got to honest, I did not like her On my own. As soon as it got high she tried to belt but it just sounded like shouting. All my life, I've only been preTENDING! :P Love her though.

[@plant9288]

Aaron Baker I agree but she was amazing in spelling bee

[@AsiaMs]

She's not right for Eponine. She doesn't hold her notes and takes breaths where she doesn't have to and it just chops up the melody. It's annoying when she's already singing it in a lower key but has to take a breath before the money note. I like her legit head voice. It's much better than her chest/belt. She could have played Cosette.

[@bibbsy123abc]

I have to admit that this comment is refreshing, I personally love Les Miserables but it is pretty cool to hear from someone who doesn't like Les Mis even though they enjoy musical theater. I was just wondering why you don't like it? Not trying to argue or anything but I just was wondering if there is something in particular that makes you dislike the show?

[@MrLightsCAMARAction]

yes i was thinking the same thing.. i don't care for this to be honest..

[@jaymepacheco6191]

Keenan-Bolger? She's the real Schwartzandgrubenierre

[@MattChance]

This is perhaps the most annoying line of the entire show. It’s terrible, even with a show that makes constant easy jokes. At least she makes up for it with the beautiful “I Love You Song”.

[@LGBTArtsYouth]

Spelling Bee is my favorite show. I don't like Les Mis at all, and I honestly think she was the best Olive ever, but no one is the best Eponine because that song is dreadful.

[@Keith_Petersen_Actor]

Lea Salonga is the best eponine.

[@LGBTArtsYouth]

I find that it is an over-glorified show that is monotonous and basically is 3 songs. I also despise the commercialization of theater. I feel that the score is also a tawdry mix of pop and faux classical. Overdone.

[@dannypreklas]

Spelling Bee or Les Mis? If you’re talking Spelling Bee you’re most definitely wrong. If you’re talking Les Mis...you right

[@nikkita3746]

it’s been seven years but i need to know what shoes you’re referring to

[@holyshard530]

@@dannypreklas spelling bee is more like a broadway version of a real life thing, and less commercialization..though it does have a fictional sponsor (Putnam Optometrists), besides that it has wonderful characters that capture the woes and worries for those who have been in spelling bees..I haven't been in a bee, but it is a fantastic show!

[@dannypreklas]

@@holyshard530 it’s my favorite in the world!