Renee Elise Goldsberry Reveals Why Dawson’s Creek Cast Was ‘Shaking’ During Recent Reunion: ‘It Was Perfect’ (Exclusive)

Renée Elise Goldsberry had a major part to play in the recent Dawson’s Creek reunion. 

The Hamilton alum served as narrator for the Sept. 22 charity event that saw the cast of the iconic series come together for the first time in more than twenty years for a live reading of the show’s pilot episode. 

Goldsberry, who originated the role of Angelica Schuyler, was asked to participate in the event by Hamilton director Thomas Kail, who is married to Dawson’s Creek star Michelle Williams. Even more fitting, the event took place in the Richard Rodgers Theater, home to Hamilton on Broadway. 

Looking back on the event, which was hosted to raise money for F Cancer and series lead James Van Der Beek, who was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer last year, Goldsberry says it gives her “chills.”

“[Kail] said, ‘What we get in the theater, you don’t get when you’ve created this phenomenon television show or film, and that is to stand in the space with your audience and feel that love,’ Goldsberry tells PEOPLE during an interview about her upcoming documentary Satisfied, out Sept. 30, 2025. “And he wanted to give that to them.”

Though Goldsberry left the cast of Hamilton 2016, this year has been filled with reminders of the show’s impact as the cast celebrates its tenth anniversary. Earlier this year, the original Broadway cast came together to perform during the Tony Awards ceremony. 

“What the world gave us when we reunited for the Tonys in Hamilton is something that you want every family anywhere to get,” she says. “Not only that you get to reunite but you get to do it in the world with your fans where they celebrate it.”

“I got to see that beautiful family of actors sit on their chairs…their bodies were literally shaking, they had never felt that feeling that we get when your people are screaming for you,” she adds. “And I was right there sitting next to them watching them take that in, and it was perfect.”

The night was also a reunion for Goldsberry who came together with her Girls5Eva costar Busy Philipps along with Hamilton star and creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who served as Van Der Beek’s understudy after the actor had to back out due to “two stomach viruses.”

Miranda took to Instagram to reflect on the experience of stepping in at the last minute to support the cast. 

“Kail called over the weekend: @vanderjames caught a virus and was unable to travel to NY for the Dawson’s Creek reunion Monday,” he began his post. “Now I’m godfather to Tommy and Michelle’s kid, so filling in for Dawson last minute falls under general coverage. What happened next was for me, more like being in an episode of Quantum Leap; I had the immense privilege of being present as an understudy so that people’s love for James, his family, and this incredible cast and show could reverberate all around the Rodgers and the world. Even got to be back onstage w @reneeelisegoldsberry.”

Though Van Der Beek was unable to attend in person, the actor did make a surprise virtual appearance — via a pre-recorded video — to introduce Miranda as his replacement.

“I want to stand on that stage and thank every single person in the theater for being here tonight,” he said in part. “From the cast to the crew to everybody who’s doing anything and has been so generous, and especially every single last one of you – you are the best fans in the world.”