Gutted James Van Der Beek drops out of Dawson’s Creek reunion; Lin-Manuel Miranda to step in

James Van Der Beek announced on Instagram Sunday that he cannot attend Monday's Dawson's Creek reunion charity event because of a stomach illness. The 48-year-old actor has been battling stage 3 colorectal cancer since last year and is undergoing treatment, his representatives said. The live table read of the show's 1998 pilot is set for the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City and will benefit F Cancer and Van Der Beek's cancer fundraising efforts.

Van Der Beek said he was gutted to miss the reunion, which was organized by his former co-star Michelle Williams, who had assembled the cast earlier this year. He noted that two stomach viruses kept him from traveling and performing. He also announced that Lin-Manuel Miranda will take his place as Dawson Leery, describing the substitute as an upgrade and noting that Miranda already knows how to get to the theater.

Miranda, the creator of Hamilton, will portray Dawson in the reading, with the rest of the Dawson's Creek ensemble slated to attend: Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Kerr Smith, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta and Busy Philipps. Jason Moore, who directed three episodes of the series, will direct the charity table read and will also produce the event alongside Williams, her husband Thomas Kail, series creator Kevin Williamson, Carl Ogawa, Maggie Brohn and Greg Berlanti.

The reading will be held at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City. The event supports F Cancer and Van Der Beek's ongoing battle with colorectal cancer. The cast will come together for a live table read of the pilot episode from 1998.

Van Der Beek announced his cancer diagnosis last November, saying he had been privately dealing with the illness with his family’s support and that there was reason for optimism. He has described living with cancer as a full-time job and said the journey would likely continue for the rest of his life, though sharing his story has helped others seek screening and care.

Kimberly Van Der Beek confirmed in the comments that she and the couple’s six children would attend the fundraiser. In his Instagram post, Van Der Beek said he would be beaming and receiving from afar from a bed in Austin while the others perform in New York.

Dawson's Creek, which followed a group of teens in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts, aired from 1998 to 2003 on The WB. The reunion reading is intended to celebrate the show's legacy while raising money for cancer causes.