Greenspan, Boyd, Aidem join Crudup in cast of Rapp's METAL CHILDREN at Vineyard

The Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.) has announced full casting for its world premiere production of Adam Rapp's play THE METAL CHILDREN -- starring the
previously-announced Billy Crudup -- with previews set to begin May 4 prior to its official press opening May 19, according to Douglas Aibel, artistic director of Vineyard Theatre.

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 a young-adult novel he wrote, 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 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, PHAEDRA and CHRISTINA ALBERTA'S FATHER. 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 it 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 Colarco, 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.