NORTHFIELD — Pioneer Valley Regional School students will take to the stage Friday for opening night of their spring production, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

Written by Rachel Sheinkin, the feature-length comedic musical follows the experiences of six quirky adolescents pining for glory in their local spelling bee, which is run by three similarly eccentric adults.

At a stage rehearsal Tuesday evening, Director Brian Campbell, who also serves as the school’s athletic director, sat in the sound booth, tweaking knobs and buttons as the young actors and actresses performed a rendition of the song “Pandemonium.”

“I really like the show. It has a lot to say in terms of the pressures that are put on young people, what that pressure does and how it shapes them for better and for worse,” Campbell explained. “It’s certainly funny and silly, but I think it can also speak to some certain meaningful dynamics between parents and their children.”

Campbell referred to the play’s 15-person cast as the “most hardworking” he’s ever worked with, rehearsing tirelessly over the past few months, with or without his assistance.

This year’s production, Campbell said, marks a continuance of the school’s full-length play productions since the theater program exited the COVID-19 pandemic with a half-length performance of “Into the Woods” in 2022.

“I kind of regretted making it a half-length production halfway through. I just realized how talented our cast was that we probably could have done the full show,” he said. “I thought it was important to push ourselves to be able to do full-length shows. We have the ability and I know not a lot of programs here in the Franklin County area put on large-scale theater productions.”

Pioneer eighth grader Oliver Heydenreich is taking on multiple roles in the play, including their lead role as Chip Tolentino, one of the spelling bee contestants Jesus, and a father.

“I enjoy playing the role of Chip particularly, because his character adds a lot of comic relief to the show,” Oliver said. “I’ve been interested in theater since fifth or sixth grade and when I came to Pioneer, I finally had the chance to actually do it. I’ve been in two productions with Pioneer that came to see the light of day.”

Mia Fowler-Shaw, a junior who plays a “creepy male,” said this production will be her 10th show at Pioneer.

“It’s definitely an interesting acting experience,” she said, “but it’s been fun to work with that and see how it’s different because you’re acting as something very different from yourself.”

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” will be performed at Pioneer at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, as well as at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets, which can be purchased at the door, cost $10 for adults and $5 for students.

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.