Shannon Cochran, who, at London's Gate Theatre, created the role of Agnes, which Plummer was to have played, has been brought in as a replacement, producer Scott Morfee told Playbill On-Line.

"Bug is a five-character play," said Morfee. "Twenty-four hours before our first performance, I received and accepted the resignation of Amanda Plummer." Morfee declined to comment further. He said that the show's press opening is yet to be determined.

Bug would have reunited the Off-Broadway team of playwright Letts, producer Morfee, and actors Plummer and Michael Shannon. The quartet worked with success on the 1998's Killer Joe, which played to full houses at the Soho Playhouse. The play is being staged at the Barrow Street Theatre.

Also in the cast are Amy Landecker, Michael Cullen and Reed Birney. Cochran is a Letts veteran, have recently acted in the Chicago premiere of the playwright's The Man From Nebraska.

Dexter Bullard, a known quantity in Chicago—Letts' stomping ground—but new to New York theatre circles, directs. Morfee's co-producers are Amy Danis and Mark Johannes.

Plummer's exit is the latest in a season replete with sudden star departures. Among the incidents: Jasmine Guy left Broadway's The Violet Hour after exhibiting strange behavior on stage; Mary Tyler Moore bolted from Rose's Dilemma following run-ins with playwright Neil Simon; Barbara Barrie was recently dismissed from the Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof; an ill Grant Shaud was replaced by Mark Setlock in Off-Broadway Roulette during previews.