James Van Der Beek was not able to attend the Dawson’s Creek staged reading reunion with most of the original cast in attendance.
If you don’t know, a live staged reading of the fan favorite show’s pilot episode was set up, with the original cast returning to participate. The benefit show was organized to help James and F Cancer. If you aren’t aware, James announced his diagnosis with stage 3 colorectal cancer in 2024, after being diagnosed in 2023. It was discovered he was selling some of his Varsity Blues memorabilia to help pay for his treatments.
Originally, James was announced as part of the lineup, but over the weekend, he confirmed he’d be unable to come due to two stomach viruses. Lin-Manuel Miranda took his place and read the role of Dawson.
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James recorded a video message for the audience and we have video, which was shared by the “Back To You, Bob!: A Dawson’s Creek Podcast.”
“I have been looking forward to this night for months and months ever since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together. I can’t believe I’m not there. I can’t believe I don’t get to see my cast mates, my beautiful cast in person,” he shared.
“And just I want to stand on that stage and thank every single person in the theater for being here tonight. From the cast to the crew to everybody who’s doing anything and has been so generous, and especially every single last one of you – you are the best fans in the world,” he added. “Thank you for coming. It’s just absolutely humbling just how much you did for this night, and I just want to say thank you. Thank you to every single person here.”
“And, obviously, on Dawson’s Creek, I had an understudy, but this is a problem… and, we figured trying to find somebody who had never understudied in this theater before,” he added as he readied to introduce Lin-Manuel.
James‘ wife did attend the event, and she spoke out about her decision to support despite her husband not being there in person.
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