'Akeelah and the Bee'... a drama that inspires drama
published: Wednesday | June 7, 2006

Laurence Fishburne (left) stars as Dr. Larabee and Keke Palmer as precocious 11-year-old Akeelah Anderson in 'Akeelah and the Bee'.

AN INSPIRATIONAL DRAMA, Akeelah and the Bee is the story of Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer), a precocious 11-year-old girl from south Los Angeles with a gift for words. Despite the objections of her mother Tanya (Angela Bassett), Akeelah enters various spelling contests, for which she is tutored by the forthright Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne), her principal Mr. Welch (Curtis Armstrong) and the proud residents of her neighborhood. Akeelah's aptitude earns her an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and in turn unites her neighborhood that witnesses the courage and inspiration of one amazing little girl.

Akeelah and the Bee, which also stars Jeff Marlow, Sara Niemietz and Eddie Steeples, is directed by Doug Atchison who wrote the screenplay.