Hollywood’s latest buzz isn’t just another reboot announcement — it’s a touching reminder that some TV friendships run deeper than scripted dialogue.
The beloved cast of “Dawson’s Creek” is staging their first complete reunion in 25 years, but the circumstances behind this gathering pack an emotional wallop. James Van Der Beek’s recent stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis has sparked an outpouring of support from his former castmates, culminating in this extraordinary event at New York’s Richard Rodgers Theater (fresh off its record-breaking run of “Hamilton: The Next Chapter”).
Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, and Joshua Jackson — each now carrying impressive creative credentials of their own — didn’t hesitate when the September 22 date was proposed. They’ll be joined by Mary Beth Peil (whose Mrs. Grams remains an unsung hero of ’90s television) and Busy Philipps for a live reading of the show’s pilot episode.
Creator Kevin Williamson, speaking from his new writer’s room in Studio City, put it rather beautifully: “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.” Well, ain’t that the truth.
Meanwhile — because Broadway loves nothing more than keeping it in the family — Carrie Coon is making her own theatrical homecoming. Fresh off that deliciously sharp turn in “The White Lotus” (and honestly, who saw that twist coming?) and her scene-stealing work in “The Gilded Age,” she’s stepping into her husband Tracy Letts’ psychological thriller “Bug” at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.
The production marks Coon’s first Broadway appearance since her Tony-nominated role in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” — and darling, the wait has been worth it. This deliciously dark piece follows the paranoia-fueled romance between a lonely waitress and a mysterious drifter. Letts describes it as “scary and funny and intimate,” though anyone who caught the show’s Off-Broadway run last spring knows that barely scratches the surface.
There’s something rather poetic about these simultaneous announcements. While the “Creek” crew rallies around their own in a celebration of enduring friendship (and let’s be honest, some pitch-perfect late-’90s fashion choices), Coon and Letts are proving that creative partnerships can evolve in the most fascinating ways.
Michelle Williams — who’s weathered her share of industry storms since playing the misunderstood Jen Lindley — captured the spirit perfectly: “We grew up in Capeside and that’s a bond that will last a lifetime. We wanted to gather around our dear friend James and remind him that we are all here.”
The “Dawson’s Creek” reunion will benefit F Cancer (timing that feels almost too pointed to be coincidental), while “Bug” starts previews at the Friedman on December 17, 2025. Two vastly different productions, united by that indefinable magic that happens when performers connect with their audience — and each other — in real time.
And isn’t that what great theater’s all about?
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