Jon Cryer to star in 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' off Broadway

The Two and a Half Men and Pretty in Pink star will return to the NYC stage in the critically acclaimed musical revival at New World Stages in May.

Summary

• Jon Cryer will star as Vice Principal Douglas Panch in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee off Broadway from May 11
• He is best known for his screen roles in Two and a Half Men and Pretty in Pink
• He previously performed on Broadway in Brighton Beach Memoirs and Torch Song Trilogy

We've got new C-A-S-T-I-N-G: Emmy Award winner Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men, Pretty in Pink) will join the cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee off Broadway at New World Stages starting May 11.

Cryer's previous New York theatre credits include Brighton Beach Memoirs and Torch Song Trilogy on Broadway and a Company concert production at Lincoln Center. Now, he will star as Vice Principal Douglas Panch, the spelling bee co-moderator currently played by Jason Kravits, who departs on May 10 due to other professional commitments.

Cryer joins continuing cast members Lilli Cooper as Rona Lisa Peretti, Jasmine Amy Rogers as Olive Ostrovsky, Autumn Best as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, Matt Manuel as Mitch Mahoney, Philippe Arroyo as Chip Tolentino, Leana Rae Concepcion as Marcy Park, Justin Cooley as Leaf Coneybear, and Kevin McHale as William Barfée.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee follows an elementary- and middle-school spelling competition featuring six quirky student contestants and three equally quirky adults. "The endearing misfit characters, upbeat and thoughtful songs, and consistently laugh-out-loud humor add up to pure joy," New York Theatre Guide's review reads.

The current revival marks the show's 20th anniversary; it originally premiered on and off Broadway in 2005. Director/choreographer Danny Mefford now directs the show by Rachel Sheinkin (book) and William Finn (score).