'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' sets Off-Broadway cast

Four actors have been announced for the first New York revival of the two-time Tony Award-winning musical starting performances at New World Stages in November.

We've got C-A-S-T-I-N-G! Seven actors have been named to star in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee off Broadway, with more to be announced soon. Performances run from November 7 to February 15 at New World Stages, with opening night on November 17.

The Spelling Bee cast includes Jasmine Amy Rogers (BOOP!) as Olive Ostrovsky, Autumn Best (Woman of the Hour) as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, Matt Manuel (Ain’t Too Proud) as Mitch Mahoney, Philippe Arroyo (& Juliet) as Chip Tolentino, Leana Rae Concepcion (Merrily We Roll Along) as Marcy Park, Grammy and Tony Award nominee Justin Cooley (Kimberly Akimbo) as Leaf Coneybear, and Grammy nominee and SAG Award winner Kevin McHale (Glee) as William Barfée in his New York stage debut.

Arroyo, Concepcion, and McHale reprise their roles from this production's premiere at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. in fall 2024. The Off-Broadway transfer marks the 20th anniversary of the musical, which premiered on Broadway in 2005, and its first New York revival since.

Featuring a Tony Award-winning book by Rachel Sheinkin and a score by Tony winner William Finn, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee follows six students in a highly competitive spelling bee run by three quirky adults. Danny Mefford directs and choreographs this revival.

The show also features scenic design by Teresa L. Williams, costume design by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by David Weiner, sound design by Haley Parcher, and music supervision by Carmel Dean.

Additional casting has yet to be announced.

Get The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee tickets now.

Photo credit: Jasmine Amy Rogers, Autumn Best, Matt Manuel, Philippe Arroyo, Leana Rae Concepcion, Justin Cooley, and Kevin McHale. (Rogers photo by Nicole Wilson; Best photo by Ruby Ricks; Manuel photo by Brian Parillo; Arroyo photo by Coty Tarr; Concepcion photo by YellowBelly Photo; Cooley photo by Andrew Brucker; McHale photo by Corinne Louie)