Fuller House Actor Steps Into Schmigadoon! Role for Limited Engagement
Juan Pablo Di Pace made his Broadway debut in Schmigadoon! on October 24, playing Doc through November 22. He fills in while original cast member Ivan Hernandez takes a planned leave, with Hernandez set to return November 24. The musical, adapted from the Apple series, won four 2026 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Di Pace’s limited stay as Doc runs from Oct. 24 to Nov. 22, covering Ivan Hernandez’s planned absence; Hernandez is scheduled back Nov. 24. Di Pace has appeared on screen in Mamma Mia! and Dallas, among other titles, and onstage in Chicago and Saturday Night Fever.
Schmigadoon! comes from Cinco Paul’s book and score and Christopher Gattelli’s direction and choreography. Its story follows two New York doctors who get lost while backpacking and land in a musical town; the show earned four 2026 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Di Pace’s casting may draw Fuller House viewers and other screen audiences toward Broadway, potentially widening Schmigadoon!’s reach beyond existing musical-theater fans. The limited run could create a short-term ticket-demand bump and give theatergoers a reason to plan around specific dates. For the production and its performers, the substitution may also highlight how casting changes and scheduled leaves can keep a show in the cultural conversation, though any broader effect on attendance or tourism remains uncertain.