The cast of Dawson’s Creek are reuniting for the first time since 2003 for a live reading of the show’s pilot episode, in aid of the charity F Cancer and star James Van Der Beek, who was recently diagnosed with the disease.
Created by Scream writer Kevin Williamson, the teen drama ran from 1998 to 2003 and followed the lives of a close-knit group of high schoolers in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts. At its peak the series drew over 6million viewers in the US and has been fondly remembered by fans ever since.
Key cast members Van Der Beek, Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson all went on to find success after the show, with Williams becoming a five-time Oscar nominee and Holmes appearing in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.
Last November, Van Der Beek shared with People: “I have colorectal cancer. I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family,” adding that “there’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good”.
It has now been announced that a charity live reading of the show’s pilot episode will take place on Monday September 22, at the Richard Rodgers Theater in New York City. Van Der Beek will be joined by Williams, Holmes, and Jackson, as well as cast members Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe and Busy Philipps. Phillips, Smith, and Monroe joined the show in later seasons, and so will play various other characters in the episode.
Tickets go on sale at Broadway Direct on Friday, August 22, at 10am PT/6pm GMT.
Williamson, who co-produces the event, said in a statement (via Variety): “I am so excited to reunite with James, Michelle, Katie, Joshua, and our Dawson’s Creek family for such a special night”.
He continued: “Dawson’s Creek changed my life. What began as a personal story about a young man and his friends navigating their way through the challenges of life became so much more than I ever dreamed. It created an enduring fandom and legacy all over the world. I am so honoured to be a part of it and to support our beautiful friend, James, as we continue to navigate our way through life and its many challenges”.
Last September, Holmes and other cast members paid tribute to actor Obi Ndefo, who played Brodie in the show, after his death at the age of 51.
