He succeeds Stephen Bienskie, who is departing to recreate his original role in the upcoming L.A. production of Silence!

Ayers, whose Broadway credits also include Fiddler on the Roof and Mamma Mia!, joins a cast that features David Garrison (Hannibal Lecter), Jenn Harris (Clarice Starling), Randy Harrison (Dr. Chilton), Ashlee Dupré, Howard Kaye, Nick McGough, Topher Nuccio, Ronica V. Reddick, Kimberly Stern, Pamela Bob and Doug Trapp.

Silence! has a book by Hunter Bell, music and lyrics by Jon and Al Kaplan and direction and choreography by Christopher Gattelli.

"In the Academy Award-winning film 'The Silence of the Lambs,'" press notes state, "rookie FBI agent Clarice Starling matches wits with the brilliant but insane cannibal, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, to catch the serial killer known only as Buffalo Bill. Clarice faces her own demons while racing the clock to unlock Lecter's clues before another innocent girl is killed and skinned by Buffalo Bill. The laugh-out-loud wicked satire, Silence! The Musical, features a singing chorus of floppy eared lambs narrating the action as Buffalo Bill gleefully dances a hoedown while kidnapping hapless Catherine Martin. Even Dr. Lecter, scary as ever, sings about the life he'd like to lead someday outside the prison walls."

Music supervisor is Mark Hartman, with orchestrations by Brian J. Nash. Silence! is produced Off-Broadway by Theater Mogul.

The playing schedule at the Elektra Theatre (673 Eighth Avenue at 42nd Street) is Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 PM, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 3 and 7 PM.

Tickets are  available by calling (212) 352-3101 or through SilenceTheMusical.com.