OGUNQUIT — Actress Brenda Vaccaro will replace Valerie Harper as Millicent Winter in the Ogunquit Playhouse’s production of “Nice Work If You Can Get It” through the end of the show’s run on Aug. 15.
The theater announced Harper’s replacement in a press release Saturday and said that Harper “continues to rest after falling ill on July 29.”
“Valerie is feeling great right now and we want her to continue to rest and to enjoy her family. After discussing with them, we decided that we wanted to relieve her of any pressure of having to return to the show, which only runs for two more weeks,” stated the Playhouse’s Executive Artistic Director Bradford Kenney in a press release. He stated that the Playhouse had “Valerie’s blessing” to replace her with Vaccaro starting with Tuesday’s performance.
Vaccaro has acted in film and television for decades. Her career includes guest-starring on “Friends” as Joey’s mother, according to a press release from the theater. She starred with Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight in “Midnight Cowboy,” and also starred in “I Love My Wife” with Elliott Gould, “Summer Tree” with Michael Douglas, and “Going Home” with Robert Michum.
Vaccaro has had three television series of her own: “Sara,” for which she received an Emmy Award nomination, “Paper Dolls” and “Dear Detective.” She also received an Emmy Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Special for “The Shape of Things.”
In addition to her Emmy, Vaccaro has received a Golden Globe Award, the People’s Choice Award, and the Theater World Award, according to the press release.
She has also been honored with two Academy Award nominations, five Tony Award nominations, and numerous Emmy Award nominations.
Harper was taken to a hospital Wednesday night before that night’s production of “Nice Work If You Can Get It” at the Ogunquit Playhouse, according to a press release from the theater last week.
On her Facebook page, Harper dispelled rumors that she had been in a coma.
Harper appeared be maintaining a sense of humor, posting: “But I must confess that the highlight of this ordeal came when I was escorted by two handsome young men and a pilot, in a medivac helicopter, as the full moon lit the sky. Talk about movie magic!!!”
Harper has a long career in acting, most notable in the television series “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Rhoda.”
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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