A statement from Rick Miramontez, a spokesperson for the play, issued to Playbill.com reads, "On doctor's orders, Stockard Channing is resting at home, recuperating from a recent knee injury. We look forward to having her back in the show next week."
Isabel Keating, a Tony nominee for The Boy from Oz, has been performing in her place. Keating is the standby for Virginia Noyes and Julia Budder.
The play, a love letter to the theatre about what it takes to make a show a hit, began Broadway performances Aug. 28 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.
The production, which stars The Producers co-stars Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, has already taken in millions at the box office and is playing a limited 18-week engagement through Jan. 4, 2015.
The play stars "Harry Potter" actor Rupert Grint as young director Frank Finger, Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham as critic Ira Drew, Tony Award winner Broderick as playwright Peter Austin, Tony Award winner Channing as actress Virginia Noyes, Tony Award winner Lane as television star James Wicker, Emmy Award winner Megan Mullally as producer Julia Budder and Micah Stock as the wide-eyed Gus P. Head. Tony Award winner O'Brien helms the production, which officially bows Oct. 9 at Broadway's Gerald Schoenfeld (236 West 45th Street).
In It's Only a Play, according to producers Tom Kirdahy, Roy Furman and Ken Davenport, "it's opening night of Peter Austin's (Broderick) new play as he anxiously awaits to see if his show is a hit. With his career on the line, he shares his big First Night with his best friend, a television star (Lane), his fledgling producer (Mullally), his erratic leading lady (Channing), his wunderkind director (Grint), an infamous drama critic, and a wide-eyed coat check attendant on his first night in Manhattan. It’s alternately raucous, ridiculous and tender — reminding audiences why there’s no business like show business. Thank God!"
Lane and Broderick co-starred in the Tony-winning hit musical The Producers, for which Lane won a 2001 Tony Award. Lane is also a Tony winner for A Funny Thing Happened…, and Broderick is a Tony winner for How to Succeed… and Brighton Beach Memoirs.
Channing is a Tony winner for A Day in the Death of Joe Egg. Abraham is an Academy Award winner for "Amadeus," and Mullally is best known for her Emmy-winning work on "Will & Grace."
Four-time Tony Award-winning playwright McNally recently celebrated the premiere of his 20th Broadway production, Mothers and Sons, which marks his 50th year on Broadway.
Tickets for It's Only a Play are available by visiting Telecharge.com. For groups of 20 or more, call (855) 329-2932.
Visit ItsOnlyAPlay.com.
