Dirty Secret No More: Jonathan Pryce to Replace John Lithgow in Scoundrels

Tony Award winner Jonathan Pryce will replace John Lithgow as suave con artist Lawrence Jameson in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels on January 17, two days after Lithgow leaves the production.

Pryce will star opposite Tony winner Norbert Leo Butz, whose contract with the show was recently extended through July 2006. There is no official word yet as to whether or not he will share the stage with the musical’s Tony-nominated leading lady, Sherie Rene Scott; but Scott previously told TheaterMania that she planned to leave DRS in January, and it has been announced she will star in the Signature Theater Company’s production of John Guare’s Landscape of the Body in March, opposite Lili Taylor.

With a book by Jeffrey Lane and music and lyrics by David Yazbek, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels opened officially on March 3. The production received 11 Tony nominations, including Best Musical. It also stars Joanna Gleason, Gregory Jbara, and Sara Gettelfinger.

Pryce has won Tony Awards for his performances in Comedians and Miss Saigon; the latter show marked his last appearance on Broadway to date. He has worked extensively on the London stage, and his film credits include Evita, Glengarry Glen Ross, Brazil, and Pirates of the Caribbean.