When lights go up at Town Hall, the audience will meet middle school nerds Olive Ostrovsky, Leaf Coneybear, William Barfee, Chip Tolentino, Logainne SchwartzandGrubinierre and perky Marcy Park plus three quirky adults: Vice Principal Douglas Panch, Comfort Counselor Mitch Mahoney and Realtor Rona Lisa Peretti, the bee moderator — and a former champion.

It’s time for “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” described in a Tony-winning 2004 musical that filters a story through varied degrees of adolescent angst, developing highly entertaining profiles of each character via occasional flashbacks as the bee progresses— and some equally entertaining definitions, especially from Planch.

Musical numbers enlarge on each personality and dance will be choreographed by the multi-talented Nick Sugar, with funny guy Bob Wells in the director’s chair.

One can count on Wells to shape each actor into a distinct and engaging character, as the script is written. He will also be aided by energetic musical director Donna K. Debreceni.

Olive’s best friend is her dictionary, Logainne has two dads, Barfee first spells the word with his foot, Marcy speaks six languages and is under pressure to succeed, Leaf seems to be in a trance and Chip is preoccupied with sex.

Four members of the audience are typically invited to participate in the bee, until they’re eliminated by tough words, outshown by these outsider kids, who get a chance to shine.

There’s a message, but it’s totally covered by the charm of the script and music— until one thinks about what one has seen! No wonder it’s been so popular across the nation.

If you go:

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” By William Finn and Rachel Scheinkin plays Jan. 7 to 30 at Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., Downtown Littleton, 2450 W. Main St., Littleton. Robert Wells directs. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays ; 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $18 to $36. 303-794-2782, ext. 5, www.townhallartscenter.com.794-2782, ext. 5, www.townhallartscenter.com.