As much as it pains me to say goodbye to top tier actor Alan Rickman, who originated the role of Leonard in Theresa Rebeck’s outrageously smart comedy Seminar, which opened at the Golden Theatre last November, I am consoled by the fact his replacement will be Jeff Goldblum, who continues to surprise and delight me with his career choices and performance -- particularly his last Broadway outing in 2005 playing a laid-back police interrogator in The Pillowman.

The switchover from droll Brit to quirky American will take place at the beginning of April, with Rickman playing his final performance on the 1st and Goldblum stepping into the role on the 3rd.

Still, if you haven’t yet seen Tony Award nominee/Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Rickman’s performance, I urge you to do so and then return to check out Goldblum’s interpretation which will be quite different and wonderfully worthy of compare & contrast & discuss.

Goldblum’s announcement of his plan to join the five-person cast came last night during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. And, incidentally, Goldblum will be showing up in tonight’s episode of Glee.

SEMINAR follows four aspiring young novelists played by Lily Rabe, Hamish Linklater, Jerry O’Connell and Hettienne Park, who sign up for private writing classes with Leonard, an international literary figure. For tickets and more info: SeminarOnBroadway.com

Posted on February 14, 2012 - by