Dawson’s Creek Reunion
The cast of "Dawson’s Creek" came together on September 22nd for an emotional and powerful reunion in New York City. The event was held at the Richard Rodgers Theater, where the cast read the 1998 pilot episode.
The Cast Reunites
Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson, Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes, Nina Repeta, Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe, and Busy Philipps all took to the stage to read the pilot episode. Lin-Manuel Miranda joined the cast, filling in for James van der Beek, who was unable to attend due to illness.
A Night for Charity
The evening was hosted by Renée Elise Goldsberry and was held to raise money for cancer research and to support van der Beek, who is battling colon cancer. Before and after the reading, van der Beek appeared on screen via video message, thanking the audience for their support.
Emotional Messages
Van der Beek expressed his disappointment at not being able to attend the event in person, saying "I wanted to stand on this stage and thank every single person in this theater for being here tonight." He also made a surprise appearance on screen after the episode was read, making light of the similarities between "Dawson’s Creek" and "The Phantom of the Opera."
Special Guests
The night included several special guests, including Steven Spielberg, who appeared on screen with a message for the cast. "Dawson, you did it. Maybe one day I’ll have a Dawson’s Creek-themed closet," he said.
A Musical Finale
The night ended with a musical performance, as Goldsberry led the cast in singing the show’s theme song, "I Don’t Want to Wait" by Paula Cole. Van der Beek’s daughters joined in, singing solo verses, and were later joined on stage by their mother, Kimberly van der Beek, and their siblings.
The Reunion Comes Together
The idea for the reunion came from Michelle Williams, who enlisted the help of her husband, Thomas Kail, and show creator Greg Berlanti to make it happen. The event was a huge success, with the entire "Dawson’s Creek" family coming together to support a good cause and celebrate the show’s enduring legacy.
