Breaking News: Zachary Levi Joins Cast of Broadway-Bound SHE LOVES ME; Josh Radnor Departs Due to Scheduling Conflicts

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) announced Zachary Levi (Georg) will star alongside Laura Benanti (Amalia), Rene Auberjonois (Maraczek), Gavin Creel (Kodaly), Michael McGrath (Sipos) and Jane Krakowski (Ilona) in a new Broadway production of She Loves Me, directed by Scott Ellis, choreographed by Warren Carlyle with musical direction by Paul Gemignani. This classic musical comedy features a book by Joe Masteroff, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and music by Jerry Bock.

Zachary Levi had a successful Broadway debut with musical First Date (2013) winning a Theater World Award and earning a nomination for the Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance. He currently stars in NBC's new fall series "Heroes Reborn" and is well known for his starring role on NBC's fan favorite "Chuck". Previously announced actor Josh Radnor departed the production due to scheduling conflicts.

The cast will also feature Nicholas Barasch (Arpad) and Peter Bartlett (Head Waiter) and ensemble members Cameron Adams, Alison Cimmet, Justin Bowen, Preston Truman Boyd, Benjamin Eakeley, Sara Edwards, Michael Fatica, Gina Ferrall, Jenifer Foote, Andrew Kober, Laura Shoop, Jim Walton.

In a special celebration of Roundabout's 50th Anniversary season, She Loves Me returns to Broadway in a new production led by Roundabout's Associate Artistic Director Scott Ellis. Scott directed Roundabout's ten-time Tony nominated revival of She Loves Me in 1993, which marked the first Broadway musical in the company's history and launched the Musical Theatre Program at Roundabout. Highlights from Roundabout's Musical Theatre Program include Cabaret, Nine, Assassins, Violet, The Pajama Game, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Sunday in the Park with George, Anything Goes and On the Twentieth Century.

She Loves Me will begin preview performances on February 5, 2016 and officially open on March 3, 2016. This is a limited engagement through May 22, 2016 at Studio 54 on Broadway (254 West 54th Street).

The creative team includes David Rockwell (sets), Jeff Mahshie (costumes), Don Holder (Lights), Jon Weston (Sound), Larry Hochman (Orchestrations), David Krane (Dance Arrangements & Incidental Music).
ZACHARY LEVI (Georg). Levi's exuberance and charm and star power have made him a preferred first pick in Hollywood. Levi will soon be seen on upcoming NBC series 'Heroes." The highly anticipated revamp of the fan favorite show will premiere to excited audiences in the fall of 2015. This marks a return to NBC for Levi, who portrayed the beloved "Chuck" for five seasons. Levi recently did a theater run in his Broadway debut as "Aaron" a sweet guy looking for love, opposite Krysta Rodriguez in the witty musical "First Date" The play received critical acclaim as did Levi for the run of the show. On the big screen, Levi appeared most recently in the Marvel film "Thor 2" as the role of Fandral the Dashing. Levi also appeared as the lead role opposite Mandy Moore in Disney's twist on its classic Rapunzel, entitled "Tangled." The Oscar nominated film was a huge success at the box office and DVD release. Additionally, Levi appeared in the 20th Century Fox film "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" which broke box office records in its Christmas release. Levi was also seen starring with Amber Tamblyn in the independent feature film "Spiral" and audiences also remember his starring roles in the franchise film "Big Momma's House 2"with Martin Lawrence. Levi grew up in Ventura County, CA. He began acting in theater at the early age of six, performing lead roles in regional productions such as "Grease," "The Outsiders," "Oliver," "Godspell," "The Wizard of Oz" and "Big River", and "Marvin's Room" It was this early training that ultimately brought him to the attention of Hollywood. Levi devotes much

time and energy doing philanthropic work as an ambassador for Operation Smile, through his company The Nerd Machine and his annual comic con event NERD HQ which has raised over a million dollars for the charity to date. Levi currently resides in Los Angeles.

Roundabout Theatre Company welcomes back celebrated Broadway performer Jane Krakowski after her Tony-winning performance in Roundabout's 2003 Broadway production of Nine. Laura Benanti also starred in Roundabout's production of Nine. Jane Krakowsi and Peter Bartlett starred in a special one-night only gala reading of She Loves Me in 2011. The company of She Loves Me represents many Roundabout alumni including Nicholas Barasch Alison Cimmet, Justin Bowen, Preston Truman Boyd, Benjamin Eakeley, Gina Ferrall, Jenifer Foote and Jim Walton.

She Loves Me is a heartwarming musical comedy classic about finding love the good old-fashioned way. It follows Georg (Levi) and Amalia (Benanti), two parfumerie clerks who aren't quite the best of friends. Constantly bumping heads while on the job, the sparring coworkers can't seem to find common ground. But little do they know, the anonymous romantic pen pals they have both been falling for happen to be each other! Will love continue to blossom once their identities are finally revealed?

The celebrated score features favorites such as "Vanilla Ice Cream", "A Romantic Atmosphere", "Dear Friend" and "She Loves Me." The musical is based on a play by Miklos Laszlo, whose well-known romantic story was the basis for the 1940 James Stewart film "The Shop Around the Corner" and the 1998 Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan film "You've Got Mail".

Major support for She Loves Me is provided by The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation.
She Loves Me benefits from Roundabout's Musical Theatre Fund with lead gifts from The Howard Gilman Foundation and Perry and Marty Granoff.

Photo Credit: Eric Blackmon