S. Channing set to return to It's Only A Play next week

According to a spokesperson for the star-studded Broadway revival of Terrence McNally's comedy It's Only a Play, Tony Award winner Stockard Channing, who has temporarily been out of the production due to a knee injury, is set to return next week:

"On the advice of her physician, Ms. Channing will be returning to her role in It's Only a Play next week. We had previously anticipated her return this week but let us assure you that she will be returning to the production shortly — it's only an injury."

In her absence, Tony nominee Isabel Keating has been taking over the role of Virginia Noyes.

Stockard Channing has a wealth of Broadway and theatre experience, including a 1985 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for 'Joe Egg', and 6 further Tony nominations: 'Other Desert Cities' (2012), 'Pal Joey' (2009), 'The Lion in Winter' (1999), 'Four Baboons Adoring the Sun' (1992), 'Six Degrees of Separation' (1991), and 'The House of Blue Leaves' (1986). Other Broadway credits include 'The Little Foxes', 'Love Letters', 'They're Playing Our Song' and 'The Rink'. She is best known for creating the role of Rizzo on screen in 'Grease', and currently stars in the TV show 'The Good Wife'.

It's Only a Play will open at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on 9 October 2014, and is booking through to 4 January 2015.

The cast also includes Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham, Tony Award winner Matthew Broderick, Tony Award winner Nathan Lane, Emmy Award winner Megan Mullally, Rupert Grint and Micah Stock. The production is directed by Jack O'Brien.

Terrence McNally is a four-time Tony Award winning playwright. 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.

- by Tom Millward