Busy Philipps gave Us behind the scenes details of the recent Dawson’s Creek reunion — including how the solid pivoted when James Van Der Beek announced he wouldn’t give you the option to attend.
“I believe we were all really hoping that James was going to give you the option to make it even sort of up until the last second,” Philipps, 46, exclusively told Us Weekly while promoting her partnership with Supernus Pharmaceuticals. “We just had a contingency plan in place.”
Philipps added, “Thankfully, Lin-Manuel Miranda knows the Richard Rogers Theatre thoroughly.”
The Recent York City venue is similar theatre where Hamilton is performed. Philipps added that it was an “easy call” to ask the Broadway star and creator of the hit musical, 45, to step in since he’s close friends with Michelle Williams’ husband, Thomas Kail. The actress added that Miranda’s addition to the Dawson Creek family was a giant win for Van Der Beek, 48, and his family.
“James was also very thrilled that Lin was capable of step in. His kids and family were capable of see Hamilton the day before,” she explained. “We just needed to work out the way it was going to … be the perfect version of a thing.”
Last month, Philipps, Williams, Katie Holmes, Joshua Jackson and more of the Dawson’s Creek solid gathered on the Richards Rogers Theatre for the highly anticipated reunion. The group reprised their roles from the beloved teen drama for a special reading of the pilot script. Miranda stepped in for Van Der Beek to portray lead character Dawson Leery. The event was raising funds for the charity F Cancer.
Van Der Beek was initially scheduled to attend but needed to cancel because he was sick. (The actor can be currently battling stage III colon cancer.) Although he was unable to attend himself, Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, still made an appearance. (The pair, who tied the knot in 2010, share daughters Olivia, 14, Annabel, 11, Emilia, 9, and Gwendolyn, 6, and sons Joshua, 13, and Jeremiah, 2.)
Along with acting out the show’s first episode, the solid performed a sing-a-long to the Dawson Creek theme song, Paula Cole’s “I Don’t Wish to Wait.” James and Kimberly’s little ones also joined in to sing the tune. While talking to Us, Philipps revealed that the surprise moment was arranged by Jason Moore, an “incredible theater director” who worked with the Dawson’s Creek solid on an episode back within the ‘90s.
“We’d all worked with him before … We had been attempting to work out what the perfect solution to do the song was,” Philipps told Us, adding that because James’ children are “really amazing singers,” it will be fun for them to be involved as well.
“There was numerous texting forwards and backwards the week before between me, Tommy and Jason Moore about … what can we do with the song, and the way can we make it special? I believe it was Jason’s idea … and possibly Tommy too,” she shared.
Philipps added that they thought it was a “great moment” to incorporate.
Should you weren’t one among the lucky fans to experience Capeside on Broadway, Us Weekly is taking you contained in the 2025 Dawson’s Creek reunion. Michelle Williams, who played Jen Lindley on the beloved WB show, organized a one-night-only reading of the Dawson’s Creek pilot to boost money for F Cancer as former costar James Van […]
“Everybody just got here together, and everybody had great ideas and input, and [it was] all hands on deck,” she explained. “We just really wanted it to be special and something that, although James wasn’t capable of be there, he would feel the love from the Richard Rogers theater on Broadway all of the solution to Texas.”
Philipps was actually one among the one actors who didn’t reprise her original role for the reunion, as her character, Audrey, doesn’t appear until the show’s fifth season. As an alternative, she took on the a part of Tamara Jacobs (played by Leann Hunley within the series), the problematic teacher who takes 15-year-old Pacey Witter’s (Joshua Jackson) virginity..
In a scene from the pilot, Jackson’s character kisses Tamara, which Philipps and Jackson recreated on stage to an eruption of claps and screams. Philipps admitted the pair — who played love interests later within the show — “didn’t have any conversations” concerning the smooch beforehand.
“It’s a reading on stage. We just should do it!” she said with fun, adding that the moment got precisely the response she expected. “I believe anytime you kiss Josh Jackson, individuals are going to scream.”
Joshua Jackson and Katie Holmes leaned on one another for support as they took their final bows following the Dawson’s Creek reunion. Jackson and Holmes, who portrayed Pacey Witter and Joey Potter, respectively, on the WB series, could possibly be seen holding hands and placing their heads on one another’s shoulders as they wrapped up their […]
While the Dawson’s Creek reunion was initially put together to boost money for F Cancer amid James’ cancer battle, Philipps can be focusing her philanthropic efforts toward ADHD awareness. The actress realized she had the condition later in life after her daughter Birdie was diagnosed first. Philipps has since teamed up with Supernus Pharmaceuticals to discuss her experience.
“Once I began to attempt to work out what was the best path for me by way of treatment. And I attempted Qelbree, which is non-stimulant. It really worked for me, so it felt like a really natural fit,” she said of the partnership. “I’m capable of discuss a thing that I actually consider [in]. More people must be educated about, especially women and girls, ADHD, and getting a diagnosis that is smart for them.”
Philipps shared that each her and her daughter being diagnosed with ADHD together has helped them navigate the condition. (Philipps shares Birdie and daughter Cricket with ex-husband Marc Silverstein.)
“I believe it’s been numerous determining ways to assist her [and] me manage it, after which also having the understanding that her brain does work otherwise, and that is just a part of it,” she told Us. “There’s nothing incorrect together with her. It’s just different. And I believe it takes numerous the shame and stigma away.”