J. Harrison Ghee has bowed out of the Oh, Mary! national tour. He was scheduled to play Mary’s husband, Abraham, and was then going to take over the title role in January after Alaska Thunderf*ck departs. First we learned that Ghee would miss the initial month of the tour to treat an ongoing kidney issue.  Now it’s been announced that Ghee will be focusing on health issues and not appear at all.  We’re sorry we won’t get to see the amazingly talented JHG in either role.  However, I somehow missed that the lovely and talented Wesley Taylor is also a part of this tour – playing the plum role of Mary’s Teacher.  Get all the dates and info at OhMaryPlay.com.

I had a busy week in Boston.  I went to the opening night of the Huntington Theatre’s production of To Kill a Mockingbird.  Naturally, this was the Aaron Sorkin version of the Harper Lee book which starred Jeff Daniels on Broadway (and Richard Thomas on tour).  It’s been billed as the first regional production of this version, and it certainly fulfilled its pedigree.  The production was handsome, fluid, and directed with great care by Loretta Greco.  The cast could hardly be bettered, led by Karl Kenzler as Atticus and Karen Killeen as Scout.  I must also mention Patrice Jean-Baptiste as no-nonsense Calpurnia and Andrew Stevens Purdy as a mighty sassy Dill.  The show runs through November 8^th, and you can grab tickets at HuntingtonTheatre.org.

I also caught Varla Jean Merman’s fantastic show, Unlike a Virgin, which was playing at Boston’s Club Café as part of her national tour.  Of course, I’d already reviewed the show during its Provincetown run, and I’m delighted to say it’s even more outrageous and hysterical in its touring version.  But it’s so much more than that.  Varla has impeccable timing.  As always, she is simultaneously clever and poignant.  You don’t believe me?  Check her out if she comes to a city near you.  Full tour dates and details can be found on VarlaJean.com.

Congratulations go out to Mark Indelicato, who you know from Ugly Betty and Hacks.  He recently got married and revealed that he met his spouse David Watson on Hinge.  “I wasn’t looking for anything, and then I met my person.”  Mark’s Hacks boss, Jean Smart, officiated the ceremony, which was also attended by co-stars Hannah Einbinder, Meg Stalter, Paul W. Downs, Poppy Liu and Johnny Sibilly.  I was most touched to learn that his Ugly Betty mom, Ana Ortiz, hosted the ceremony in her backyard.

Colton Haynes has been named a MISTR Ambassador and made his debut on the blue carpet for National PrEP Day (which somehow didn’t make it onto my calendar).  He announced his role in a campaign to promote PrEP to help prevent the spread of HIV: “How do I say this without getting in trouble?  You might be seeing some stuff involved with this beautiful company MISTR.  A bunch of us that are here are possibly not wearing any clothes.  I would never give spoilers, but I love MISTR and I love being part of this family.  We’ll see.  Stay tuned.”