James Van Der Beek Replaced by Lin-Manuel Miranda in Dawson’s Creek Event

James Van Der Beek said Sunday night that he is dropping out of the live Dawson’s Creek reunion event due to “two stomach viruses.”

Lin-Manuel Miranda will replace him for the one-night-only live reading of the pilot script. 

The event, which will benefit the organization F Cancer, is set to feature original stars Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe and Busy Phillips. It will take place Monday in New York City at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. 

Van Der Beek, who revealed last year that he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, shared the news on Instagram.

Read his full post below.

This is the evening I’d been looking forward to MOST since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together, way back in January…

So you can imagine how gutted I was when two stomach viruses conspired to knock me out of commission and keep me grounded at the worst possible moment.

Despite every effort… I won’t get to be there.  I won’t get to stand on that stage and thank every soul in the theater for showing up for me, and against cancer, when I needed it most.

But I DO have an understudy.  A ridiculously overqualified replacement who would have been #1 on my wishlist (had I ever dreamed he’d be available). Someone my kids would definitely consider an upgrade over me… Plus, he already knows how to get to the theater.  So that’s convenient.

The role of “Dawson”, usually played by James Van Der Beek…

Will be played by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Can’t believe I just got to type that.

Everyone please enjoy all the love in that room.  Shine some on my family.  I will be beaming and receiving from afar in a bed in Austin.

And thank you @lin_manuel .  You were a hero to my kids before… now you’re a demigod 😇