Here’s a piece of casting news that’s sure to make some noise: Smash vet Andy Mientus is joining The Flash as hearing impaired (and openly gay) DC Comics villain Pied Piper (AKA Hartley Rathaway), TVLine has learned exclusively.

One of DC’s original Rogues, Hartley is a bona fide genius who used to work at S.T.A.R. Labs until a falling out with his mentor, Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh). The particle accelerator robbed Hartley of his hearing, but inspired him to create a series of sonic weapons that he uses in an effort to punish Wells by destroying his new protege: The Flash.

Pied Piper is one of the few openly gay villains in the DC Universe, and I’m told The Flash will not be shying away from that aspect of the character.

Mientus, who is currently starring in the Broadway revival of Les Misérables, is set to appear in Flash‘s 11th and 12th episodes.

The Flash this week debuted to 4.8 million total viewers and a 1.9 demo rating, making it The CW’s most watched and highest rated series launch in five years.