Spelling Bee: new cast announced, Mo Rocca to play vice principal Douglas Panch

Comedian Mo Rocco, special correspondent to The Tonight Show and alum of The Daily Show, will make his Broadway debut when he joins the cast of 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee as Vice Principal Douglas Panch from 17 Apr 2007. He replaces Derrick Baskin who is to play Jetsam in The Little Mermaid

On the same day Jennifer Simard will also make her Broadway debut as Rona Lisa Peretti, a role she performed on the musical's national tour.

Also on the 17 Apr 2007 fromer cast members from San Francisco and Boston runs of Spelling Bee will revive their roles on Broadway. Aaron J. Albano as Chip Tolentino, Stanley Bahorek as Leaf Coneybear, Jenni Barber as Olive Ostrovsky, Sara Inbar as Logainne Schwartzandgrubiennaire, Greta Lee as Marcy Park and James Monroe Iglehart as Mitch Mahoney.

They join former San Francisco/Boston company cast member Jared Gertner, who has been playing William Barfee since 30 Jan 2007.

25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee currently features original cast members Derrick Baskin (Mitch Mahoney), Deborah S. Craig (Marcy Park), Lisa Howard (Rona Lisa Peretti), Jose Llana (Chip Tolentino) and Sarah Saltzberg who are joined by Jared Gertner, Barrett Foa, Greg Stuhr and Jessica Snow Wilson (Logan Schwarzengrubeniere).

25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, opened at the Circle In The Square on 2 May 2005, following previews from 15 Apr 2005. The musical originally opened Off-Broadway at Second Stage on 7 Feb 2005, following previews from 11 Jan 2005. The musical is currently booking to 1 Jul 2007.

The musical comedy is about six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn�t everything and that losing doesn�t necessarily make you a loser.

25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee has music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin and is based on an idea conceived by Rebecca Feldman. The musical is directed by James Lapine, with choreography by Dan Knechtges, costumes by Beowulf Boritt, lighting by Natasha Katz and sound by Dan Moses Schreier.