Adam Rapp's THE METAL CHILDREN Begins Run At The Vineyard Theatre 5/5

The Vineyard Theatre's world-premiere production of THE METAL CHILDREN, written and directed by Adam Rapp, begins previews on May 5. The play has an official opening on May 19 at the Vineyard (108 E. 15 St.) in Manhattan.

Tickets to THE METAL CHILDREN are $65 and can be reserved by calling the Vineyard Theatre box office at 212 353 0303 or online at www.vineyardtheatre.org.

Directed by Adam Rapp, the cast of THE METAL CHILDREN will feature Betsy Aidem, Connor Barrett, Susan Blommaert, Guy Boyd, Billy Crudup, David Greenspan, Halley Wegryn Gross, Jessy Hodges and Phoebe Strole.

THE METAL CHILDREN is a timely drama about a New York writer (Mr. Crudup), and his explosive encounter with a small American town that he travels to in order to defend one of his young adult novels, which has been banned by the local school board. The controversy ignites heated emotions over religious beliefs and censorship.

Billy Crudup made his professional stage debut at the Vineyard Theatre in 1994 in Chiori Miyagawa's play AMERICA DREAMING, directed by Michael Mayer. He won a Tony Award for his performance in Tom Stoppard's THE COAST OF UTOPIA, and also starred on Broadway in THE PILLOWMAN, THE ELEPHANT MAN and ARCADIA. His numerous film credits include SLEEPERS, INVENTING THE ABBOTTS, ALMOST FAMOUS, BIG FISH, WATCHMEN and PUBLIC ENEMIES.

The Obie Award-winning actor and playwright David GreenSPAN most recently appeared Off-Broadway in THE MYOPIA and CORALINE (for which he also wrote the book). He is currently appearing in the new play RESCUE ME. He recently appeared on Broadway in THE ROYAL FAMILY. He has won Obies for SOME MEN, Goethe's FAUST and THE BOYS IN THE BAND.

Guy Boyd appeared on Broadway in AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, SEX AND LONGING and ROSE. He played the title role in Sam Shepard's THE LATE HENRY MOSS and has appeared in Adam Rapp's plays STONE COLD DEAD SERIOUS and ESSENTIALS OF SELF DEFENSE. He starred in Brian de Palma's classic thriller "Body Double."

Betsy Aidem appeared at Vineyard Theatre in Mary Rose, and elsewhere Off-Broadway in A LIE OF THE MIND, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, PERA PALAS and BALM IN GILEAD.

Susan Blommaert has appeared on Broadway in the 2007 revival of GREASE and at the Vineyard in Mary Rose. Film appearances include "Edward Scissorhands" and TV appearances include "Murphy Brown" and "L.A. Law."

Connor Barrett appeared in Adam Rapp's play FINER NOBLE GASES. Jessy Hodges has appeared in over a dozen episodes of "Anyone but Me."

Halley Wegryn Gross has appeared on the TV series "The Book of Daniel" and several episodes of "The Good Wife," as well as Off-Broadway in THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE and HURLYBURLY.

Phoebe Strole appeared on Broadway and off in SPRING AWAKENING, along with MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA Off-Broadway.

Adam Rapp's plays include RED LIGHT WINTER, NOCTURNE, FINER NOBLE GASES, STONE COLD SERIOUS, BLACKBIRD, TRUBLINKA, AMERICAN SLIGO, and BINGO WITH THE INDIANS. He was a 2006 Pulitzer Prize finalist for RED LIGHT WINTER, which also received two Obie Awards. He is also the author of the Young Adult novel "The Buffalo Tree," which was censored by the Muhlenberg School Board in Reading, PA due to its themes, graphic language, and sexual content.

The Vineyard Theatre -- whose world-premiere production of the musical THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS by John Kander and Fred Ebb, with direction and choreography by Susan Stroman, and book by David Thompson concludes its acclaimed, record-breaking run April 18 -- is the recipient of the Tony Award for the musical AVENUE Q and continues as producer of the musical's current production at New World Stages in New York. As well, The Vineyard has produced the musical [title of show] on Broadway. One of the nation's leading non-profit theatre companies dedicated to new plays and musicals, bold programming and arts education, The Vineyard has produced the Pulitzer Prize-winning productions of Edward Albee's "Three Tall Women," and Paula Vogel's "How I Learned to Drive." The Vineyard has consistently premiered provocative, groundbreaking works and developed innovative educational collaborations. The company's 2009-10 season opened with the critically-acclaimed play "A Boy and his Soul" written and performed by Colman Domingo. This spring, they will produce the new musical "The Burnt Part Boys" by Mariana Elder, Nathan Tysen and Chris Miller, directed by Joe Calarco, which will be a co-production with Playwrights Horizons.

For performance and ticket information to Vineyard Theatre, visit www.vineyardtheatre.org or call 212 353 0303.

 

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.