Carter is the second "designing woman" to play the part in the Broadway hit; she follows Delta Burke in the role. Burke, who starred with Carter in the TV sitcom "Designing Women," exited the Marquis Theatre Feb. 15, the same day as Tony Award winner Sutton Foster, who originated Millie.

Terry Burrell has played "Meersy" since Burke left and performs Feb. 23, too.

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Carter, who won praise for Broadway's Master Class, will don Oriental drag to play a has- been/never-was actress masquerading as Chinese hotel proprietress, Mrs. Meers, who runs the Hotel Priscilla. She secretly arranges 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.

Tony Award nominee Susan Egan (Cabaret, Beauty and the Beast) assumed 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, Angela Christian as Miss Dorothy Brown, David Rhee as Ching Ho, Francis Jue as Bun Foo and Anne L. Nathan as Miss Flannery.