Playbill On-Line is pleased to introduce a new weekly column, Comings and Goings, which highlights prominent Broadway and Off-Broadway cast changes. Column items are chosen by PBOL's Andrew Ku, and does not try to be comprehensive. For complete cast change information, see the Who's Who section of our theatre listings.
- Jerry Stiller has departed Scott Elliott's production of Three Sisters at the Roundabout; the role of Solyony (the Captain) is now played by Tom Aldredge. Aldredge's most recent Broadway outings have been the National Actors Theatre's Inherit the Wind and Passion, where he replaced William Duff-Griffin during the musical's preview period. Three Sisters continues through April 6.
- Over at Once Upon a Mattress, highly-sought-after musical director Eric Stern has passed the baton to Todd Ellison. Stern has moved on to Candide, the Wheeler-Bernstein-Wilbur musical beginning previews at the Gershwin April 19.
- Speaking of musical directors, The King and I's Michael Rafter is on hiatus from the hit Rodgers and Hammerstein revival in order to conduct the Off-Broadway musical Violet. The acclaimed show about a young woman's quest for healing features music by Jeanine Tesori (who is married to Rafter) and book and lyrics by Brian Crawley. Violet is playing at Playwrights Horizons through April 6.
- Another King and I note: Tony-nominee Joohee Choi has left the production; understudy Cornilla Luna has moved into the role of Tuptim, newest wife of The King of Siam.
- With Encores! wrapping its five-performance run of Promises, Promises Sunday, assorted cast members of that sparkling production resume their "day jobs" in shows both on- and Off-Broadway. Promises co-star Kerry O'Malley returns to Paula Vogel's How I Learned to Drive at the Vineyard Theatre. O'Malley's supporting roles in Drive include Mary Louise Parker's alter ego in the show's climactic scene between Parker and David Morse. Meanwhile, Mary Ann Lamb goes back to Chicago (as June), Tara Nicole to A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (as Geminae), Harrison Beal to Beauty and the Beast (as Lefou), and Vince Pesce and Kimberly Lyon return to the chorus of Victor/Victoria.
