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Unexpected illness sidelines Van Der Beek
James Van Der Beek announced on Instagram that he will not attend Monday’s highly anticipated Dawson’s Creek reunion because he’s been sidelined by a stomach virus. The actor — who disclosed a stage three colorectal cancer diagnosis last November — said he was “gutted” to miss an evening he had been looking forward to since Michelle Williams first helped organize the event.
A Broadway heavyweight steps into a TV classic
In a twist that blends Broadway and 1990s TV nostalgia, Lin‑Manuel Miranda will read the role of Dawson in Van Der Beek’s stead. Miranda, a Tony- and Pulitzer-winning writer-performer best known for Hamilton, is no stranger to live theatrical readings and benefit performances. Van Der Beek joked that Miranda would be an “upgrade” in the eyes of his children and that he couldn’t believe he had typed the sentence naming Miranda as his understudy.
What the reunion includes
The reunion — first announced in August — reunites original cast members for the first time since the series ended in 2003. The evening is structured around a table read of Dawson’s Creek’s 1998 pilot and serves as a fundraiser for F Cancer and Van Der Beek. Confirmed participants include Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary‑Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe and Busy Philipps. Philipps, Smith and Monroe, who joined the show after season one, will take on various pilot roles.
Jason Moore, who directed episodes of the original WB drama, returns to direct the reunion event. The evening is produced by a team that includes Michelle Williams, Thomas Kail, Carl Ogawa, Jason Moore, Maggie Brohn, creator Kevin Williamson and Greg Berlanti.
Why this matters: nostalgia, fundraising, and format
The event reflects two current entertainment trends: the appetite for 1990s and early-2000s reunions and the growing use of table reads as star-driven fundraisers. Recent years have seen many legacy shows return in some form — from filmed roundtables to staged readings — as creators and casts leverage nostalgia while raising money for causes. A table read strips storytelling back to voice and script, offering fans a fresh way to revisit a pilot without attempting a full reboot.
Lin‑Manuel Miranda’s presence also underscores the cross-pollination between theater and screen: stage artists increasingly appear at television and film events, and screen actors pivot to live theatrical moments to connect directly with audiences.
Context and comparisons
This Dawson’s Creek gathering can be compared to other era-specific reunions like the Friends reunion special or staged readings from shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where original tone and chemistry are prioritized over reimagining. Unlike large-scale TV revival projects that attempt to extend storylines, a pilot table read emphasizes memory and performance — offering fans the original script’s beats while showcasing how actors interpret them two decades later.
Fans on social media have reacted with a mix of excitement and empathy: many expressed relief that Van Der Beek is prioritizing his health and praised Miranda’s willingness to step in. The reunion’s charitable angle — supporting cancer research and Van Der Beek himself — also framed the night as a communal act rather than mere spectacle.
"Table reads like this are meaningful cultural touchstones," says film critic Anna Kovacs. "They remind audiences of the collaborative, ephemeral nature of television production while allowing actors to re-evaluate early material with the clarity of experience. For fans, it's both a sentimental homecoming and a new performance event."
Quick trivia
- Jason Moore directed three original episodes of Dawson’s Creek and returns to helm the reunion.
- Lin‑Manuel Miranda’s recent screen credits include In the Heights and tick, tick…BOOM!, while Hamilton continues to drive his theatrical profile.
The Dawson’s Creek reunion remains a blend of nostalgia and purpose: a pilot reading that honors a generation of viewers while raising funds and spotlighting a community rallying around one of its own.
Source: variety
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