Fully three months after Peter Marks gave notice as second-string theatre critic for the New York Times, there is no word from the Paper of Record as to who will replace him, even as the theatre community embarks upon the busy, pre-Tony season. In the meantime, the Times has been testing out two of its staff writers, Bruce Weber and Sarah Boxer, in the position. Weber has previously served as author of the On Stage and Off Column. Boxer, meanwhile, has primarily written about photography up until now.

Calls to the New York Times' culture desk have gone unreturned.

Marks gave up his gig to switch gears and start reporting on the Presidential campaign trail.

Marks told Playbill On-Line the choice to change was his and noted that he doesn't like to stay in any one position for too long a time. "I've always loved politics, so this was really an ideal opportunity," he said.

Ben Brantley is the Times' first-string critic. Third-string critics include Lawrence Van Gelder, D.J.R. Bruckner and Wilborn Hampton III. --By Robert Simonson