James Lecesne Replaces Injured Michael McKean in THE BEST MAN on Broadway

Producers of the Tony-nominated Broadway revival of Gore Vidal's THE BEST MAN have announced that Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Academy Award winner James Lecesne will step into the role of Dick Jensen, the role regularly played by Michael McKean. McKean was recently injured when struck by a car at the intersection of West 86th Street and Broadway on the Upper West Side.

"Jerry Frankel and I have worked with Michael on three previous productions, The Homecoming, The Pajama Game and Superior Donuts, and he has never missed a performance, and I understand from his team that he has never missed a performance in his career. So this is the kind of first we are reluctant to announce," producer Jeffrey Richards stated. "He is currently in stable condition, he has a broken leg. Jerry and I look forward to working with Michael again on a future project."

The role of Mitch Graham, a reporter from the Washington Post, usually played by James Lecesne, will be played by Fred Parker.

James Lecesne is making his Broadway debut in Gore Vidal's The Best Man. Previously, he has appeared off-Broadway in Motherhood Out Loud, Boys in the Band, Word of Mouth (Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award), Cloud 9 and One Man Band. His regional credits include I Am My Own Wife, Irma Vep (Hartford Stage). In addition to his acting work, he is also an author and activist, whose film Trevor received an Academy Award in 1994 for best short film. James co-founded The Trevor Project, a 24-hour suicide-prevention hotline for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning teens.

Fred Parker Broadway debut! Regional: Spring Storm, Mr. Marmalade, Our Town, The Glass Menagerie, As You Like It, Hamlet. Film: The Eves, From Mexico with Love, Plans. TV: "90210."

The critically-acclaimed production of Gore Vidal's THE BEST MAN, which was originally scheduled to play through July 8, 2012, has been extended twice, now playing through Sunday, September 9, 2012.