It's Only A Play: Mullally & Grint to depart on 4 Jan 2015

It has been reported that It's Only a Play cast members Rupert Grint and Megan Mullally will leave the production on 4 January 2015 - the show's original closing date, before it was extended through to 29 March 2015. As previously reported, Tony winner Nathan Lane is also scheduled to depart on 4 January.

It has been confirmed that the other cast members, Matthew Broderick, Stockard Channing, F. Murray Abraham and Micah Stock will remain in the production, along with the new addition of Tony winner Martin Short, for the remainder of the extended run. There is no word yet on who will replace Grint and Mullally.

It's Only a Play will continue at its current home of the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre until 18 January 2015 and then make way for the Helen Mirren-led drama The Audience. It will then resume performances at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on 23 January and play through to 29 March 2015.

The comedy is set on the opening night of Peter Austin's new play, as he anxiously awaits to see if his show is a hit. On the biggest night of his life, he shares this with his best friend, a television star, his fledgling producer, his erratic leading lady, his wunderkind director, an infamous drama critic, and a wide-eyed coat check attendant. It's Only a Play is a Broadway comedy about the comedy of Broadway.

It's Only a Play opened at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on 9 October 2014 to mixed reviews, and is directed by Jack O'Brien and produced on Broadway by Tom Kirdahy, Roy Furman, and Ken Davenport.

It features scenic design by Scott Pask, costumes by Ann Roth, lighting by Philip Rosenberg, and sound design by Fitz Patton.

- by Tom Millward