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.
- Everyone one knows by now that Faith Prince is replacing Tony-winning Donna Murphy in The King and I; less well known in the fact that Kay McClelland (City of Angels, Crazy for You) is the new Anna understudy, taking over from Barbara McCulloh. McClelland is in fact playing the lead in the show until Prince begins performances Saturday, March 22 (one day later than previously announced). Critics will be invited to re-review the show with its new star, but no press opening date has been announced.
- Beauty and the Beast's original Lumiere, Gary Beach, returns to the Broadway company (Patrick Quinn has been the enchanted candelabrum in recent weeks.) Beach most recently appeared as Dan Ward in Sweet Adeline in City Center's Encores! Series.
- Mark Nelson, who recently directed the warmly-received Drama Department revival of June Moon, and even stepped in for Peter Jacobson when the production extended, joins the starry cast of the Roundabout's Three Sisters. He takes over from Paul Giamatti, who is white-hot after his attention grabbing performance as "Pig Vomit" in the Howard Stern movie, Private Parts. Giamatti, who left Sisters for a movie role, can also be seen on the silver screen in a featured part in the Al Pacino - Johnny Depp crime drama, Donnie Brasco.
- Following the lead of such vocally demanding shows as The Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon, the newly-refurbished Les Miserables now features two actors alternating in the starring role. Although Robert Marien played all performances while the 10th anniversary cast was in previews, he now shares the role of Jean Valjean with Ivan Rutherford, who performs Wednesday matinees and Thursday evenings.
