Raul Esparza, who had a success with his 2001 run as the Emcee in Broadway's Cabaret, will return to the show Sept. 9, a spokesperson confirmed. Also due back on that date is Carole Shelley.

Esparza recently opened in DC productions of Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George and Merrily We Roll Along, both part of the Kennedy Center's summer-long Sondheim Celebration.

He began his current run of employment in Broadway's The Rocky Horror Show. He left the macabre musical May 13, 2001, to take the leading role in Jonathan Larson's autobiographical show tick, tick...BOOM! Off-Broadway. Subsequently, he left that show after a brief stay to take a role in the Roundabout Theatre Company's planned Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins. The production was suddenly canceled, however, in the wake of the World Trade Center catastrophe, leaving Esparza without an autumn job—until Cabaret came along. He began his run in the musical Oct. 26, 2001.

Molly Ringwald, who received glowing notices for her performance in the Tony-winning revival of Cabaret, returned to the role of Sally Bowles Aug. 6. Ringwald replaced Heather Laws in the part; Laws had taken over for "Frasier" star Jane Leeves on July 15.

John Stamos currently plays the Emcee on Broadway.