It's Only A Play: Short, Finneran & Pancholy debut tonight

Tony and Emmy winner Martin Short, along with Tony winner Katie Finneran and '30 Rock' star Maulik Pancholy, begin performances tonight in the star-studded Broadway revival of Terrence McNally's comedy It's Only a Play at Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.

Mr Short assumes the role of James Wicker from Tony winner Nathan Lane, whilst Ms Finneran replaces Megan Mullally as Julia Budder and Mr Pancholy takes over the role of Frank Finger from Rupert Grint. Lane, Mullally and Grint all played their final performances in the show on 4 January 2015.

Original cast members Matthew Broderick, Stockard Channing, F. Murray Abraham, and Micah Stock have all remained in their respective roles for the extended run.

It's Only a Play's limited run was extended through to 29 March 2015. It was originally scheduled to close on 4 January 2015. The show continues at its current home of the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre until 18 January 2015 and then will make way for the Helen Mirren-led drama The Audience. It will then resume performances at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on 23 January for the remainder of its run.

Martin Short won the Tony Award in 1999 for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in 'Little Me' and was nominated in the same category in 1993 for 'The Goodbye Girl'. He also wrote and starred in 'Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me' from 2006 to 2007. He is perhaps best known for his appearances in films such as 'Father of the Bride' and 'Father of the Bride II', 'Mars Attacks!' and 'Jungle 2 Jungle'.

It's Only a Play opened at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on 9 October 2014, following previews from 28 August, to mixed reviews.

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.

The production is directed by Jack O'Brien and produced on Broadway by Tom Kirdahy, Roy Furman, and Ken Davenport.

- by Tom Millward