Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures (Gregg Maday, executive vice president) announced Dec. 22 that the role of Armand will be recast.

"In the development of the show in San Francisco the creative team has decided to take the character of Armand, wonderfully played by Jack Noseworthy, in a new direction," said director Robert Jess Roth, in a statement. "I have enjoyed working with Jack and his contributions to our show have been invaluable. We will all miss him."

"Being part of the creative process of Lestat has been a tremendous pleasure and an enriching experience," Jack Noseworthy said in a statement. "I am confident that taking the character of Armand in a new direction is the correct choice for the production. I wish my friends well, and a long prosperous run."

Until an official replacement is named, the understudy for Armand, Drew Sarich, will play the role. Lestat began its six week pre-Broadway run at San Francisco's Curran Theatre on Dec. 17. It plays there to Jan. 29, 2006.

Lestat — based on the Anne Rice "Vampire Chronicles," and boasting a score by Elton John and Bernie Taupin — is scheduled to open at Broadway's Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway at 47th Street) April 13, 2006. For more information, visit www.lestat.com.