The Tony Award-winning star of Shucked, Chicago, and more Broadway shows will succeed Lilli Cooper in the award-winning revival’s cast at New World Stages.<\/p>\n
Welcome to the B-E-E! Tony Award winner Alex Newell<\/a> will join the cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee<\/a> off Broadway for four weeks only starting August 7, replacing current cast member Lilli Cooper<\/a> in the role of Rona Lisa Peretti. As previously announced, Cooper departs August 2.<\/p>\n Newell is best known for their Tony Award-winning performance in the musical Shucked, with other Broadway credits including Chicago and Once on This Island. They previously rose to fame for playing Unique Adams on Glee.<\/p>\n The current Spelling Bee cast also includes Jon Cryer<\/a> as Vice Principal Douglas Panch, Laura Marano<\/a> as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, Jasmine Amy Rogers<\/a> as Olive Ostrovsky through August 9, Matt Manuel<\/a> as Mitch Mahoney, Philippe Arroyo<\/a> as Chip Tolentino, Leana Rae Concepcion<\/a> as Marcy Park, Fernell Hogan<\/a> as Leaf Coneybear (with Justin Cooley<\/a> returning July 23), and Kevin McHale<\/a> as William Barf\u00e9e.<\/p>\n The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee centers on a spelling contest featuring six charmingly quirky students and run by three equally odd adults. The 20th-anniversary revival of the musical at New World Stages<\/a> received widespread critical acclaim<\/a> and won the 2026 Lucille Lortel, Off-Broadway Alliance, and Dorian Theater awards for Outstanding Revival.<\/p>\n