The Best Man to welcome four new prinipal cast

Golden Globe Award winner Cybill Shepherd (Cybil), Emmy Award nominee John Stamos (General Hospital), Emmy Award nominee Kristin Davis (Sex and the City) and Tony Award winner Elizabeth Ashley (Take Her, She's Mine) will join the cast of the Broadway revival of Gore Vidal's The Best Man in July, replacing original cast members Candice Bergen (Alice Russell), Eric McCormack (Joseph Cantwell), Kerry Butler (Mabel Cantwell) and Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Gamadge), respectively, when they depart the production.

Shepherd, Stamos and Davis will begin performances on 10 Jul 2012, while Ashley will begin on 24 Jul 2012.

Original cast members James Earl Jones, John Larroquette, Jefferson Mays, as well as Mark Blum, who replaced the injured Michael McKean, will remain with the production through its final performance on 9 Sep 2012.

The revival, directed by Michael Wilson, also features Curtis Billings, Corey Brill, Tony Carlin, Donna Hanover, Sherman Howard, Olja Hrustic, Bill Kux, James Lecesne, Dakin Matthews, Angelica Page, Fred Parker, Jr. and Amy Tribbey.

The Best Man opened at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on 1 Apr 20122, following previews from 6 Mar 2012. It recently announced a second extemsion which will see the play run through to 9 Sep 2012.

The play opened to mostly excellent reviews: Starry but sluggish production (NY Times); Diverting dramedy (NY Daily News); Outrageously entertaining (Record); An unqualified winner (NY1).

The revival was recently nominated for a 2012 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play, and earned James Earl Jones a nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role. The winners of the Tony Awards are announced on 10 Jun 2012.

A play about power, ambition, political secrets, ruthlessness and the race for the presidency, Gore Vidal's The Best Man is set at the national convention where two candidates are vying for their party's nomination during the primary season. It's an inside look at the dirt-digging, double-dealing, triple-crossing chicanery of presidential electioneering.

The creative team features scenic design by Derek McLane, Lighting design by Kenneth Posner, costume design by Ann Roth and sound design by John Gromada.