Playbill On-Line reported Aug. 31 that the Emmy Award-nominated actress from TV's "Designing Women" would join the company in late September. On Sept. 2, producers confirmed Sept. 30 as the start date.
Terry Burrell will play the villainous villainess through Sept. 4, according to company members. On Sept. 5 Candy Buckley steps in until Burke joins.
Burke is best known for playing self-interested, opinionated Suzanne Sugarbaker on the hit series, "Designing Women."
Harriet Harris created the role of Mrs. Meers, "the villainous proprietor of the Hotel Priscilla who secretly kidnaps young female boarders and sells them into white slavery in China." Harris won the Tony Award for it, and left the role after more than a year, on Aug. 3, to start work on a TV series.
Burke's other television credits include "Delta" and "Women of the House" (both produced by her own production company, Perseverance, Inc.), "DAG," "Filthy Rich," "First and Ten," as well as a recurring role on "Popular" and recent guest appearances on "Touched by an Angel," "Promised Land," "Any Day Now" and "Family Law." Her television film credits include "Going for Broke" and "Dangerous Child" (both for Lifetime Television), "Melanie Darrow" (also producer), "Maternal Instincts" (also executive producer) and "A Promise to Carolyn." Her feature film credits include "What Women Want," "Sordid Lives" and "Good Boy!" She is the author of "Delta Style: Eve Wasn't a Size Six and Neither Am I!," published by St. Martin's Press. After representing Florida in the Miss America Pageant and winning a talent scholarship, Burke attended a two-year study program at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. Since 1989, she has been married to actor Gerald McRaney. The company also features Tony Award winner Sutton Foster as Millie Dillmount, Leslie Uggams as Muzzy Van Hossmere, Christian Borle as Jimmy Smith, Ben Davis as Mr. Trevor Graydon, Angela Christian as Dorothy Brown, David Rhee as Ching Ho, Francis Jue as Bun Foo and Anne L. Nathan as Miss Flannery.
Tickets range $55-$100 and can be purchased at (212) 307-4100, or in-person at the Marquis Theatre box office, 1535 Broadway at 46th St.
