The show will go on for this spring’s Westport Central School Drama Club production of  “Our Miss Brooks”. With the director of the play unexpectedly unavailable, the status of the production was left in question with opening night looming.

“I was speaking with members of Westport’s Depot Theatre board of trustees, who offered to try to help us resolve this time-sensitive situation,” Cynthia Johnston, Superintendent of Schools told the press. “And they came through with not only a director for us, but with a professional Broadway veteran with a familiar face!”

Accomplished actor and director Jonathan Hadley from New York City will take the reins of director for the school play, along with support from Depot Theatre business manager Erin Harrington. Hadley is no stranger to Westport, having performed and worked at the Depot, including last summer when he took both the role as Interim Producing Director and co-star of the hit main stage show “Pete & Keely”.

“It’s an honor to be able to give back to the strong, vibrant Westport community that has supported the Depot Theatre for an unprecedented 36 seasons,” Hadley in a statement to the press.

Hadley most recently appeared on Broadway as Bob Crewe in the hit musical “Jersey Boys”, a role he then played for five years on the First National U.S. Tour, as well as in Seoul and Kuala Lumpur. He was previously seen on Broadway as Marvin Hamlisch and Michael Bennett in “A Class Act” and Off-Broadway in “Finian’s Rainbow” and “Peg O’ My Heart” at New York’s acclaimed Irish Rep. Tours include “Into The Woods” (with Cleo Laine), “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” (with Donny Osmond), “Fiddler on the Roof” (with Theo Bikel) and “Forbidden Broadway” in the US and Australia.

“Our Miss Brooks” takes the stage at Westport Central School from May 15-16.

The Depot Theatre’s 37th season opens July 10th.

Photo provided: Jonathan Hadley begins rehearsals with the Westport Central School Drama Club.