Tony Winner Ali Stroker and Olympic Gold Medalist Laurie Hernandez Will Join the Cast of Spelling Bee

The award-winning revival of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee has announced new cast members for the show’s final extension, through October 11. Beginning September 7, Tony Award winner Ali Stroker will play Rona Lisa Peretti, and Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez will play Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre.

Tony Award winner Alex Newell’s final performance as Rona Lisa Peretti will be on September 6. Both Stroker and Newell appeared on Glee after being runners-up on The Glee Project. Hernandez takes over the role of Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre from Laura Marano, who also plays her final performances on September 6.

The first major revival of Spelling Bee also currently stars two-time Emmy Award-winner Jon Cryer as Vice Principal Douglas Panch, Tony Award nominee Justin Cooley as Leaf Coneybear, Nina White as Olive Ostrovsky, Philippe Arroyo as Chip Tolentino, Leana Rae Concepcion as Marcy Park, and Matt Manuel as Mitch Mahoney. Understudies are Brandon L. Armstrong, Jahbril Cook, DeMarius Copes, Vanessa Magula, Emily Nicole Rudolph, and Cecilia Snow.

Featuring a Tony Award-winning book by Rachel Sheinkin and a score by Tony Award winner William Finn, this 20th anniversary production of the musical is directed and choreographed by Danny Mefford. TheaterMania’s Zachary Stewart called it a “textbook-perfect revival.”