Pageant: The Musical Gets a New Host Off-Broadway: John Bolton Will Step in For Kevin Meaney

Broadway alum John Bolton will join the cast of Pageant: The Musical off-Broadway. He will assume the role as the host beginning July 6, taking over for Emmy winner Kevin Meaney. Preview performances began on June 29 at the Davenport Theatre, where it will run on Sunday and Monday evenings through September 1. Opening night is set for July 14.

Bolton most recently appeared on Broadway in A Christmas Story. His additional credits include Curtains, Spamalot, Contact, Titanic, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Damn Yankees. On screen, he has been seen in TV series including Gossip Girl, The Good Wife and Boardwalk Empire.

Conceived by Robert Longbottom, Pageant features contestants desperately vying for a glittering tiara. With swimsuit, talent and evening gown competitions, the show includes both the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Unlike some (though possibly not all) beauty pageants you've seen before, the female contestants are all played by men and the audience gets to select the winner each night. The show is penned by two-time Tony nominee Bill Russell and Frank Kelly and features music by Albert Evans.

Bolton joins a cast that includes Nick Cearley, Alex Ringler, Marty Thomas, Seth Tucker, Curtis Wiley and Nic Cory.