Over spring break, Natalie Floreancig, speller 207, saw "Hamilton," the Tony-nominated musical that's been a hot ticket in New York.
When one of the spelling words in the preliminary test was "reticent," it put "Cabinet Battle" in her head -- the lyrics include the phrase "Thomas Jefferson, always hesitant with the President / Reticent-there isn't a plan he doesn't jettison."
Natalie, a Pennsylvania seventh grader, said both seeing the show and coming to the Bee have been really cool experiences -- but that the spelling bee might be better than "Hamilton."
"I actually get to be part of this," she said. "I feel pretty happy cuz I got here. ... This place is really cool."
