Dawson's Creek cast reunites for live reading as family surprise brings tears

A Dawson's Creek reunion unfolded Monday night in New York City as a live reading of the show's pilot episode, staged at the Richard Rodgers Theatre to benefit F Cancer. James Van Der Beek, who starred as Dawson Leery, was forced to miss the event after falling ill during cancer treatment. In his place, his wife Kimberly Van Der Beek and their six children joined the cast on stage, drawing emotional reactions from the ensemble and audience alike.

The onstage moment featured Van Der Beek's daughters Olivia, 14, and Emilia, 8, delivering solos on verses of the show's theme song, “I Don’t Wanna Wait,” as Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson watched from the wings and offered support. A round of applause rose as Kimberly arrived with the couple's other children—Annabel, 10; Gwendolyn, 6; Joshua, 12; and Jeremiah, 3—for the chorus. Meredith Monroe, who played Andie on the series, was seen wiping away tears, and Williams wrapped her arm around onscreen grandmother Mary Beth Peil as the moment carried into a full cast embrace.

James revealed in a pre-recorded message that Michelle Williams was the driving force behind the night, saying he had been looking forward to it for months since she invited the cast to come together. He explained that two stomach viruses forced him to withdraw from the live reading days before the event, and Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped in to fill his role for the reading. In the video, Van Der Beek thanked his former co-stars and expressed his gratitude for the support from fans and colleagues alike, saying, “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.”

Kimberly Van Der Beek later shared her own reflections in an emotional post, noting she had spoken with James to “digest” the night and praising Williams and her Broadway producer husband, Thomas Kail, for making many of the kids' dreams come true on the trip. She highlighted how the cast has supported James throughout his journey, describing the group as “exquisite, fairy angel humans.” She also spoke warmly about the long-standing friendship between James and Mary Margaret Humes, who played Dawson’s mom on the show, noting that Humes sends cookies on James’s birthday and keeps in touch with messages that brighten the family’s days.

The reunion marked the first time the Dawson's Creek cast had come together in 22 years. The event, held at a Broadway theater, featured a live reading of the pilot episode in support of cancer-related charity work. The show, which aired from 1998 to 2003 on The WB, followed a group of friends as they navigated high school and early adulthood in the fictional town of Capeside. It earned recognition during its run, including a Teen Choice Award in 2000 for TV - Choice Drama.

James Van Der Beek announced in November that he had been diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer. He described taking steps to address the disease with the support of his family, partners and medical team, emphasizing a hopeful outlook despite the challenges. In recent months, he has spoken publicly about lifestyle changes and the long road of treatment, repeatedly underscoring that the journey is ongoing and that rest, diet, and self-care remain central to his approach. The night’s performances, and the display of family solidarity, offered a moment of resilience amid his health battle and a reminder of the lasting bond among the Dawson's Creek alumni and their supporters.