Casting Announced for Spelling Bee and Moonlight at London’s Donmar Warehouse

London's Donmar Warehouse has announced the cast of its British premiere production of The 25th Annual County Spelling Bee and additional casting for its revival of Harold Pinter’s tragic comedy Moonlight.

The 25th Annual County Spelling Bee, the musical about word-obsessed, lovable misfits, will begin performances February 11, 2011 and open on February 21 opening. Donmar Associate Director Jamie Lloyd will helm a cast that includes Chris Carswell (Leaf Coneybear/Carl Dad), David Flynn (William Barfee), Hayley Gallivan (Olive Ostrovksy), Harry Hepple (Chip Tolentino/Jesus), Katherine Kingsley (Rona Lisa Perretti/Olive's Mum), Maria Lawson (Marcy Park), Ako Mitchell (Mitch Mahoney/Dan Dad/Olive's Dad), Steve Pemberton (Vice Principal Douglas Panch) and Iris Roberts (Logainne Schwatzandgrubenniere).

Spelling Bee garnered six Tony Award nominations when it bowed on Broadway in 2005, including Best Musical, a Best Score nod for composer William Finn and a win for bookwriter Rachel Sheinkin.

Bijan Sheibani will direct the previously announced David Bradley in Harold Pinter’s Moonlight. Joining Bradley in this tragic comedy of family dysfunction will be Deborah Findlay as Bel and Daniel Mays as Jake. 

Findlay is currently appearing on the London stage as Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie. She has previously appeared at the Donmar Warehouse in The Vortex, The Cut, John Gabriel Borkman and Madame de Sade. Mays has been seen onstage at the Royal Court in Scarborough, Motortown, The Winterling and Ladybird, and in such films as Made in Dagenham, The Firm, Atonement, Vera Drake and Rehab.

Moonlight will begin performances on April 7, 2011 and officially open on April 12.