Anne L. Nathan originated the role of the tough-shelled but soft-centered typing pool matron, Miss Flannery, and exits Feb. 29 to join the Broadway production of Assassins, playing Emma Goldman.

Nathan's Miss Flannery milked laughs and applause for, among other things, a feisty tap break in the Act II opener, "Forget About the Boy." Miss Flannery is remembered also for a conical hairdo (Paul Huntley is the show's hair designer) jutting dangerously from the side of her head.

Nathan (Ragtime, Swingtime Canteen) leaves Frances Jue (as Bun Foo) and Angela Christian (as Miss Dorothy) as the only remaining original principals at the Marquis Theatre.

Beyond Taboo, which closes on Broadway Feb. 8, McCartney has appeared in Dance of the Vampires, The Phantom the Opera and Les Misérables.

* Dixie Carter steps into the role of Mrs. Meers, the corrupt and funny landlady of Thoroughly Modern Millie, Feb. 23, making her the second "designing woman" to do so in the Broadway hit.

Carter follows Delta Burke in the role. Burke, who starred with Carter in the TV sitcom "Designing Women," exits the Marquis Theatre Feb. 15, the same day as Tony Award winner Sutton Foster, who plays Millie.

Carter, who won praise for Broadway's Master Class, will soon don Oriental drag to play a has- been/never-was actress masquerading as Chinese hotel proprietress, Mrs. Meers, who runs the Hotel Priscilla, secretly arranging for young women tenants to be sold off into "white slavery."

The role was originated by Harriet Harris, whose performance won the 2002 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Standby Terry Burrell will appear as Mrs. Meers Feb. 16-22.

Tony Award nominee Susan Egan (Cabaret, Beauty and the Beast) assumes the role of Millie Dillmount on Feb. 16.

The cast also includes Leslie Uggams as Muzzy Van Hossmere, Christian Borle as Jimmy Smith, Kevin Earley as Mr. Trevor Graydon and David Rhee as Ching Ho.