Van Der Beek misses Dawson's Creek reunion charity reading as Miranda substitutes

James Van Der Beek, the actor best known for playing Dawson Leery on the 1998 teen drama Dawson's Creek, did not appear in person at a Broadway reunion and charity reading on Monday after he was sidelined by two stomach viruses, organizers and the actor said. The event at the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York City, organized by Michelle Williams to benefit the cancer education group F Cancer and to support Van Der Beek's treatment, went ahead with much of the original cast and a surprise understudy stepping into the lead role.

Van Der Beek, 48, announced on Instagram the night before the event that he was "gutted" to miss the gathering he had been looking forward to most. "Two stomach viruses conspired to knock me out of commission and keep me grounded at the worst possible moment," he wrote, adding "Despite every effort I won't get to be there." In a prerecorded video shown at the theater, he told attendees, "I can't believe I'm not there. I can't believe I don't get to hug my cast mates, my beautiful cast, in person," and thanked the audience, cast and crew for their support.

Lin-Manuel Miranda took Van Der Beek's place in the live table read of the show's 1998 pilot. Van...