Katie Finneran & Maulik Pancholy to join It's Only A Play

The Producers of the Broadway revival of Terrence McNally's comedy It's Only a Play have announced two new additions to the cast, beginning performances on 7 January 2015. Two-time Tony Award winner Katie Finneran will replace Megan Mullally and '30 Rock' star Maulik Pancholy will replace Rupert Grint in the roles of of Julia Budder and Frank Finger respectively. Grint and Mullally will play their final performances on 4 January 2015 - the show's original closing date, before it was extended through to 29 March 2015.

Broadway veteran Katie Finneran won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play in 2002 for her performance as Brooke Ashton in 'Noises Off,' and then again in 2010, this time for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, for her performance as Marge MacDougall in 'Promises, Promises.' Other Broadway credits include 'Annie,' 'Mauritius,' 'The Iceman Cometh,' 'Cabaret,' 'Proposals,' 'The Heiress,' 'In the Summer House,' and 'Two Shakespearean Actors.'

Maulik Pancholy will make his Broadway debut. He is best known for his role of Jonathan on TV's '30 Rock', which aired from 2006 to 2013. His many other screen credits include 'Hitch' and '27 Dresses.'

As previously reported, Tony winner Nathan Lane is also scheduled to depart on 4 January 2015, making way for the new addition of Tony winner Martin Short from 7 January. Original cast members, Matthew Broderick, Stockard Channing, F. Murray Abraham and Micah Stock will all continue in their respective roles for the remainder of the extended run.

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