Peter Land Exits Ruthless! Off-Broadway Following Medical Emergency; Paul Pecorino Steps In

Peter Land has departed the off-Broadway revival of Ruthless! The Musical following an onstage collapse on July 17. Land, who starred in the musical comedy as Sylvia St. Croix, received emergency surgery for a tear in the aorta. A spokesperson for the production has confirmed that he has been discharged from the hospital earlier this week and that his recovery is going “extremely well.”

Paul Pecorino, who has appeared off-Broadway in Devil Boys from Beyond and The Crumple Zone, has taken over for the role. In the interim, director and co-creator Joel Paley played the part of Sylvia. Land, the husband of choreographer Gillian Lynne, has appeared on Broadway in All’s Well That Ends Well; his extensive London credits include My Fair Lady, Cabaret and The Phantom of the Opera.

Ruthless!, a musical sendup of child stars and overbearing adults, opened officially at St. Luke’s Theatre on July 13. The cast features newcomer Tori Murray, Kim Maresca, Rita McKenzie, Andrea McCullough and Tracy Jai Edwards.

Broadway.com wishes Land a speedy and safe recovery.