The entire Dawson’s Creek cast to reunite for a live reading, details explored

Dawson’s Creek was on TV from 1998 until 2003. Six seasons. The WB aired it, Sony Pictures Television produced it. Those are the plain facts. What people kept was something else. The way the show gave teenage life more weight, more sharp edges, than most dramas at the time. Capeside was never real, but somehow it stuck. It became part of pop culture, carried not only by storylines but by the voices. The way those kids talked, overthought, messed up, and kept moving. That’s what lingered.

Now it shows up again, in a way that feels strange but fitting. No reboot, no new season, just everyone together for one night. The first time since 2003 that the cast will share a stage. Monday, September 22, 2025, Richard Rodgers Theatre, New York City. A live reading of the pilot script from 1998. The same words that once introduced Dawson, Joey, Pacey and Jen. Familiar, but read again, out loud, years later, in front of a crowd.

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The reunion

This is not a reboot or a new season. It is a one-night reading of the original script. James Van Der Beek, Michelle Williams, Katie Holmes and Joshua Jackson will lead the night. Alongside them are Mary Beth Peil, John Wesley Shipp, Mary-Margaret Humes and Nina Repeta. Kerr Smith, Meredith Monroe and Busy Philipps, who entered the show in later seasons, will also take part by reading roles from the pilot. Variety confirmed the full list and noted this marks the most complete reunion since the finale.

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Purpose behind the night

The evening supports F Cancer, the nonprofit known for cancer advocacy and education. It is also directly connected to James Van Der Beek, who announced in November that he had been diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer. Ticket sales open on Friday, August 22, 2025, through Broadway Direct at 10 am PT. Guardant Health and Hard Rock Hotel New York will sponsor the event, according to Variety.

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Behind the production

Direction is set by Jason Moore, who directed three episodes of Dawson’s Creek during its original run. The producer team includes Carl Ogawa, Jason Moore, Michelle Williams, Thomas Kail, Maggie Brohn, series creator Kevin Williamson and Greg Berlanti. This combination links the event to its beginnings while adapting it for a live stage reading.

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What they said

Kevin Williamson told Variety:

“I am so excited to reunite with James, Michelle, Katie, Joshua, and our Dawson’s Creek family for such a special night. Dawson’s Creek changed my life. What began as a personal story about a young man and his friends navigating their way through the challenges of life became so much more than I ever dreamed. It created an enduring fandom and legacy all over the world. I am so honored to be a part of it and to support our beautiful friend, James, as we continue to navigate our way through life and its many challenges.”

Michelle Williams added in her statement to Variety:

“We grew up in Capeside and that’s a bond that will last a lifetime. We wanted to gather around our dear friend James and remind him that we are all here. We always have been and we always will be. And I know the fans of Dawson’s Creek feel the same way.”

Speaking to Variety, F Cancer CEO Dr. Heather Kun explained:

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with the cast of Dawson’s Creek to emphasize the importance of routine cancer screenings and being your own biggest health advocate. Cancer screening is crucial because it can detect certain cancers at an early stage before symptoms appear, significantly improving outcomes and saving lives.”

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Looking back at Dawson’s Creek

Dawson’s Creek ended up shaping how teen shows were written. The characters spoke with a kind of reflection that wasn’t common back then. On The WB, that tone stood out. Other series that came later borrowed pieces of it, the rhythm, the choice to let teenagers sound serious, even heavy at times.

The pilot set that style from the start. Watching it again makes that clear. The lines, the pauses, the way the story unfolded, that’s what gave the show its edge. Revisiting the script now puts the spotlight back on the writing, the part that made Dawson’s Creek different from so many others of its era.

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What the night means

This reunion is rare, both because of the number of cast members involved and because of the purpose driving it. Fans will see the group back together after more than two decades, but the evening is also built around raising awareness and support for a health cause that is urgent and personal.

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Closing

On September 22, at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, the Dawson’s Creek cast will return to the words that introduced them to the world in 1998. Variety confirmed the details: the lineup, the producers, the sponsors, and the cause. The live reading is more than nostalgia. It is a reminder of the show’s legacy, a way of supporting one of its stars and an evening where television history is used to shine a light on something that matters now.