Bill Irwin is back on a Broadway stage this fall, this time starring in his own adaptation of Molière's classic comedy The Imaginary Invalid, and he's sharing the spotlight with Rachel Bloom, who is making her Broadway debut after creating and starring in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. The Tony-winning physical comedian plays Argan, the hypochondriac at the center of Molière's 1673 farce, in a production that began preview performances on September 25 at the Todd Haimes Theatre in Midtown.
According to NY1, Spectrum News' Frank DiLella caught up with the company right before previews began, capturing a cast gearing up for a limited run that is scheduled to officially open October 22 and continue through November 22, as detailed by Broadway.com. The revival marks the official opening production of Roundabout Theatre Company's 2026-2027 season, per TodayTix, and runs a brisk 90 minutes with no intermission.
A Broadway Debut for the Director, Too
Behind the scenes, Tony-nominated actor Brandon J. Dirden is making his own leap, directing on Broadway for the first time with this production, according to TheaterMania. Dirden, known for his Broadway acting work in Take Me Out and Jitney, steps into the director's chair for a text that blends 17th-century French farce with Irwin's modern clowning sensibility.
Bloom, who made her Off-Broadway debut in September 2023 with her solo musical comedy Death, Let Me Do My Show at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, now plays Toinette, the cunning maid who drives much of the play's comedic chaos. Understudy Madeline Seidman is scheduled to step into the role for selected performances on November 3 and November 10, per Roundabout Theatre Company.
A Deep Supporting Cast and a Familiar Collaborator
The ensemble around Irwin and Bloom includes Broadway veteran Brooks Ashmanskas as Dr. Diafoirus and Purgon, Dylan Baker as Beralde, Crystal A. Dickinson as Beline, and Daniel Croix Henderson making his own Broadway debut as Cleante, according to New York Theatre Guide.
Irwin built his new adaptation from an English translation of Molière's original French script by writer and composer Doug Skinner, as reported by BroadwayWorld.
Molière's Classic Comedy
Molière's The Imaginary Invalid is a classic comedy centered on Argan, the hypochondriac role Irwin now plays.
For theatergoers weighing a trip to the Todd Haimes Theatre this fall, the production offers a tight, intermission-free evening built around two headline-grabbing firsts: Bloom's arrival on a Broadway stage and Dirden's debut calling the shots from behind it.
