Hal Holbrook's June 1 departure from An American Daughter is just the tip of the iceberg for changes to the Wendy Wasserstein drama. The production, originally a limited run through the beginning of June, has been extended through Aug. 30. Beginning June 8, a largely new cast will play the Cort Theatre, including Kate Burton (taking over the lead from Kate Nelligan), John Procaccino (replacing Peter Riegert), and Kate Jennings Grant (replacing Elizabeth Marvel). Understudy Ron Parady fills in for the departed Holbrook this week; on June 8, Ralph Waite will join the cast as Holbrook's permanent replacement. Continuing in their roles will be Tony winner Lynne Thigpen, as well as Bruce Norris, Cotter Smith and Penny Fuller.
The Tony-crowned The Last Night of Ballyhoo is seeing its first cast departure: Paul Rudd, who plays Arija Bareikis' suitor in the Alfred Uhry comedy/drama, is leaving to do the movie The Object of My Affection. He'll return the week of Aug. 11, with Mark Feuerstein subbing in the interim.
Michael Gruber, fresh from a stint as the Tin Man in Madison Square Garden's The Wizard of Oz, rejoins the cast of Cats as Munkustrap. David Hibbard, late of the just-closed Once Upon a Mattress, also returns to the feline musical as Rum Tum Tugger. Some may recall that Hibbard was recently cited in a lawsuit alleging that the actor went too far interacting with an audience member during a performance over a year ago .
At Miss Saigon, Elizabeth Paw has returned as the Kim alternate, playing the lead Wednesday evenings and Saturday matinees.
At yet another Cameron Mackintosh musical, Sarah Uriarte Berry continues her hiatus from Les Miserables through June 8. Scott Wise, who raised eyebrows when he joined the chorus of Victor/Victoria several months ago, has departed the gender-bending musical to star in Goodspeed Opera House's Lucky in the Rain.
While Lynette DuPre subs for Ann Duquesnay in Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk through June 15, the standby for the role of 'da Singer is Andrea Frierson Toney, who most recently co-starred as the mother in Lincoln Center Theater's Juan Darien.
