Clare Burt (Flowers for Mrs. Harris, Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park With George) will replace Haydn Gwynne in the London production of Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends, which is now scheduled to begin performances September 21 at the Gielgud Theatre.

Gwynne, as previously reported, had to withdraw from the production due to personal circumstances.

Producer Cameron Mackintosh said in a statement, “I am so thrilled that another wonderfully talented Old Friend, Clare Burt, who started out with me in the early years of both Cats and Les Miserables and is now a much-loved leading stage and screen actress, has literally stepped off a plane in order to step in for Haydn Gwynne who, sadly, had to suddenly withdraw last week. Our Old Friends cast is now complete and this sensational all-star ensemble is raring to strut their extraordinary stuff."

The limited West End run of Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends—Mackintosh's tribute concert to late musical theatre trailblazer Stephen Sondheim that was presented May 3, 2022, at London's Sondheim Theatre—is currently scheduled to play the Gielgud through January 6, 2024.

Three-time Tony honoree Bernadette Peters will again star, marking her West End debut. Peters will be joined by Tony winner Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon, Here Lies Love) as well as Christine Allado, Janie Dee, Damian Humbley, Bradley Jaden, Bonnie Langford, Gavin Lee, Jason Pennycooke, Joanna Riding, Jeremy Secomb, Jac Yarrow, Marley Fenton, and Beatrice Penny-Touré with Harry Apps, Bella Brown, Richard Dempsey, and Monique Young.

Watch Highlights From Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends, Featuring Bernadette Peters, Michael Ball, Judi Dench, Clive Rowe

Directed by Matthew Bourne side by side with Julia McKenzie, the production also features choreography by Stephen Mear, conducting by Alfonso Casado Trigo, musical supervision by Stephen Brooker, musical arrangements by Stephen Metcalfe, set design by Matt Kinley, projection design by George Reeve, costume design by Jill Parker, lighting design by Warren Letton, and sound design by Mick Potter.

Visit SondheimOldFriends.com.