When James Van Der Beek announced via social media last November that he'd privately been receiving treatment for Stage 3 colorectal cancer, a generation of Dawson's Creek fans were stunned and devastated. They'd grown up with this guy, and loved how, in his many family-centric social media posts, his real-life persona reflected the earnestness of Dawson Leery offset with warmth, wisdom and a great sense of humor. How could this be happening to someone so positive and healthy? But the star's inner circle had already been rallying around the actor, 48, for months - not just his friends and family, but also his Dawson's crew. Because, while many stars of the golden era of teen shows may occasionally "like" each other's Instagram posts, bonds go deeper than that for this group, proving that what happened in Capeside - actually, Wilmington, North Carolina, where the show filmed - didn't stay in Capeside. They made meaningful relationships that have supported them through serious ups and downs since. That's why their long-awaited public reunion is as exciting for them as it is for the hordes of fans who clamored for tickets (it sold out in 12 minutes!). The September 22 event, which takes place on Broadway, will see the original cast performing a live reading of the show's iconic 1998 pilot episode to benefit the nonprofit F Cancer and Van Der Beek, as well as raise awareness of the importance of early detection. "We grew up in Capeside, and that's a bond that will last a lifetime," Van Der Beek's costar Michelle Williams said in a statement announcing the reunion, which will also feature creator Kevin Williamson. "We wanted to gather around our dear friend James and remind him that we are all here. We always have been, and we always will be. And I know the fans of Dawson's Creek feel the same way." Getty Images Coming Back Together Since the show wrapped in 2003, the core cast has gone in different directions - professionally, personally and geographically. Van Der Beek has settled in Texas with wife Kimberly and their six kids, taking on sporadic acting gigs and a memorable run on season 28 of Dancing With the Stars; L.A.-based Joshua Jackson (Pacey Witter), 47, has become a big, serious actor, starring on TV dramas like The Affair and Little Fires Everywhere while also romancing a string of Hollywood beauties; Williams (Jen Lindley), 45, has blossomed into a respected indie actress who leads a quiet, private life in Brooklyn, New York, not too far from arguably the show's biggest name, Katie Holmes (Joey Potter), 46, who lives in Manhattan and is now an empty nester since 19-year-old daughter Suri - her only child with ex-husband Tom Cruise - has left for college. Despite their individual paths, the four stars still have plenty in common - not least the unique, life-altering shared experience of shooting to fame in such a well-loved and critically acclaimed show along with their other good friends, Busy Philipps (Audrey), Meredith Monroe (Andie), Kerr Smith (Jack) and, of course, Mary-Margaret Humes and John Wesley Shipp, a.k.a Gail and Mitch Leery, who will all be at the Broadway reunion. Humes exclusively tells Us that this enduring bond is why the group didn't hesitate to sign up to support TV's most verbose aspiring filmmaker. 'Dawson's Creek' Cast: Where Are They Now? "The first phone call I got was from James himself," Humes says. "He told me that Michelle was spearheading this, and it was a way for us to actually have a reunion, all of us together, and celebrate James' life. Because he's dealing with a very difficult situation; very optimistic, but a difficult situation. Together as a TV family, we just thought we needed to be there for him and rally around him." Smith, 53, also heard from Van Der Beek directly about Williams' plans. "Back in April or May, we were doing a convention together in Pittsburgh and he had mentioned that Michelle wanted to do this and put it together. It's Michelle's baby - she gets the credit," Smith tells Us. "When I was pitched, I said, 'Of course, I'm in. This is fantastic.'" He last saw the group in person for the 2018 Entertainment Weekly reunion photo shoot, but has been in touch with several cast members for his upcoming book about his journey on the beloved show. Instagram Kerr Smith "We went out to dinner before we did the photo shoot for that 2018 reunion. And I sat down next to Katie and one of the first things we said was it feels like no time has gone by at all. We just dove right back into a conversation," Smith says. "It's just easy." Parental Figures Humes, 71, tells Us that Van Der Beek's diagnosis resonated with her more than most, due to her own private battle with colon cancer in 2007, something she hasn't previously shared with the media. "It was just about ready to break out of the wall," she reveals. "It could've been a terrible situation, but we caught it in time. My doctor said we dodged a bullet, and it was all because of early detection. Cancers ar