OGUNQUIT, Maine — Brenda Vaccaro will replace Valerie Harper in the Ogunquit Playhouse’s production of the musical “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” Executive Artistic Director Bradford Kenney announced Saturday.
Vaccaro will take the stage Tuesday and perform through the end of the run on Aug. 15.
Harper, best known for her role as Rhoda on the “Mary Tyler Moore Show,” was hospitalized Wednesday after falling ill. On Friday, the theater announced Harper would return to perform with co-star Sally Struthers, who portrayed Archie Bunker’s daughter, Gloria, in “All in the Family.”
In as press release issued Saturday, the theater company announced Vaccaro, 75, will take over the role that has been played by an understudy since Harper became ill.
Harper, 75, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 2013, according to a previously published report. It was unclear Sunday whether she remains hospitalized.
“Valerie is feeling great right now and we want her to continue to rest and to enjoy her family,” Kenney said. “After discussing [it] 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. With Valerie’s blessing, the Ogunquit Playhouse is thrilled to announce that Brenda Vaccaro, star of film, television and stage, has arrived in Ogunquit to take over the role of Millicent Winter.”
Vaccaro has received an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, the People’s Choice Award and the Theater World Award. In addition, she has been honored with two Academy Award nominations, five Tony Award nominations and numerous Emmy Award nominations.