Miranda Replaces Van Der Beek at Dawson's Creek Reunion

Original Dawson’s Creek cast members reunited on Sept. 22 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre for a one-night staged reading of the show’s 1998 pilot to benefit F Cancer and support James Van Der Beek. Van Der Beek, 48, who is publicly battling stage 3 colorectal cancer, missed the live event after contracting two stomach viruses but appeared via a prerecorded video thanking fans and introducing Lin‑Manuel Miranda as his onstage replacement. His wife Kimberly and their six children joined the cast onstage to sing the theme song “I Don’t Want to Wait,” with daughters Olivia and Emilia delivering solo verses that moved cast members to tears. The reunion, organized by Michelle Williams, featured Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Busy Philipps, Meredith Monroe and John Wesley Shipp, included surprise messages such as one from Steven Spielberg, and raised funds for F Cancer while drawing public support for Van Der Beek amid his ongoing treatment.