Vineyard Theatre Announces 2nd Extension of THE LYONS Thru 11/20

Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.) is extending its world-premiere production of Nicky Silver's play THE LYONS a second time -- extending now through November 20 -- it has been announced by The Vineyard's Artistic Director Douglas Aibel and Co-Artistic Director Sarah Stern. A critical and popular success, THE LYONS has already broken box office records for a play at The Vineyard. Due to upcoming productions on the Vineyard's season schedule, this will be the final extension of THE LYONS.

Starring Linda Lavin and Dick Latessa and directed by Mark Brokaw, THE LYONS opened on Tuesday, October 11, and on that day The Vineyard announced THE LYONS would extend through November 11 due to popular demand. The
production began previews on September 22.

The play opened to a bevy of positive reviews.

Ben Brantley in The New York Times wrote about THE LYONS, "Nicky Silver's best play in 16 years! Hilariously frank, clear-sighted, compassionate and forgiving. A metamorphic magic imbues THE LYONS. Fluidly directed by Mark Brokaw and performed by top-drawer actors." Scott Brown in New York Magazine states, "THE LYONS succeeds marvelously. Silver's in top form -- a funny,
furious tale with honesty, savagery, humanity and wit."

Elisabeth Vincentelli in the NY Post says the play is "Very funny and surprisingly affecting. Silver has written his best dialogue in ages. Linda Lavin is a virtuouso marksman, hitting her target every single time." Linda Winer in Newsday calls THE LYONS, "Truly enjoyable, a terrific evening. It is a pleasure to be back in Nicky Silver's whirlpool of emotional hunger, despair and unexpected tenderness."

In the Associated Press, Jocelyn Noveck writes, "Nicky Silver has written one of his better works in years - one that moves at a crackling pace, peopled by fleshy, interesting characters, including a terrifically sour Dick Latessa. One leaves the theatre laughing. Hurry! THE LYONS will be one of the hotter tickets of the season!" About THE LYONS, Joe Dziemianowicz of the NY Daily News writes, "A sharp-tongued play with snappy dialogue, curvy plot twists, and a top-flight cast. Linda Lavin is delicious and constantly hilarious!"

David Cote on NY 1 News observes, "It's nice to see Nicky home again! The performances are delightfully cracked and hysterical in Mark Brokaw's tightly focused production." And Andy Propst on Theatermania says, "THE LYONS has audiences howling. Linda Lavin performs with remarkable emotional depth. A superlative ensemble."

THE LYONS -- Mr. Silver's seventh new play to open at The Vineyard -- is an outrageously funny and stirring work about a family grappling with the impending death of its patriarch. When Ben Lyons' wife, Rita, and their grown children gather to say goodbye, they learn that despite being a family, each of them is utterly isolated. Afraid of closeness and afraid of solitude, they are propelled into foreign territory - human connection.

Directed by Mark Brokaw, whose numerous directing credits include Vineyard productions of THE DYING GAUL, HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, THE LONG CHRISTMAS RIDE HOME, EIGHT DAYS (BACKWARDS) and AMERICAN FIESTA, the cast of THE LYONS features Linda Lavin, Dick Latessa, Kate Jennings Grant, Brenda Pressley, Michael Esper and Gregory Wooddell.

Linda Lavin appeared at the Kennedy Center in FOLLIES; at Lincoln Center Theatre in OTHER DESERT CITIES, THE SISTERS ROSENSWEIG (Broadway), THE NEW CENTURY (Drama Desk Award; Off-Broadway). Broadway: COLLECTED STORIES (Tony nomination), HOLLYWOOD ARMS, THE TALE OF THE ALLERGIST'S WIFE (Tony nom.), THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (Tony nom., Drama Desk Award), GYPSY, BROADWAY BOUND (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Helen Hayes awards), THE LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS (Tony nom.), COP OUT, STORY THEATRE, SOMETHING DIFFERENT, IT'S A BIRD...IT'S A PLANE...IT'S SUPERMAN, A FAMILY AFFAIR. Off-Broadway: CAKEWALK; DEATH (The Public); THE MAD SHOW; OH, KAY! (Theatre World Award), and LITTLE MURDERS (Outside Critics Circle Award). Regional: FINISHING THE PICTURE,
COLLECTED STORIES, DOUBT, RABBIT HOLE, DRIVING MISS DAISY. Film: "The Backup Plan," "The Muppets Take Manhattan," "See You in the Morning," "I Want to Go Home." TV: "Alice", "Barney Miller", "Room for Two", "Conrad Bloom". TV films "The $5.20 an Hour Dream", "A Matter of Life and Death", "A Place to Call Home", "Lena: My 100 Children", "Best Friends for Life", "The Ring", "Collected Stories". Cabaret: SONGS AND CONFESSIONS OF A ONE-TIME WAITRESS; national appearances include Birdland, The Metropolitan Room, Wilmington Symphony, NY. Upcoming: the film Wanderlust and her first CD, "Possibilities!"

Dick Latessa previously appeared at The Vineyard in its revival of Marc Blitzstein's musical JUNO. won the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for his performance in the Tony Award-winning musical HAIRSPRAY. Other Broadway credits: Cabaret, Proposals, A Funny Thing Happened..., Damn Yankees, The Will Rogers Follies, Rumors, Broadway Bound, Rags, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Passione, I Ought to Be in Pictures, Chapter Two, Follies, Awake and Sing!, DuBarry Was a Lady; Li'l Abner. Mr. Latessa's Off-Broadway credits include: Chaucer in Rome, Over the River and Through the Woods, Fit to Be Tied AND Sophistry. His TV and film work includes: "The Substance of Fire," "Alfie," "The Good Wife," and "Six Degrees."

Kate Jennings Grant was last seen on Broadway in the 2009 revival of GUYS AND DOLLS. Her other Broadway credits are PROOF and AN AMERICAN DAUGHTER. Other stage credits include: The Marriage of Bette and Boo, The Beard of Avon and Radiant BabY. Her TV and film work includes: "Body of Proof," "Parenthood," "Royal Pains," "White Collar," "Rescue Me," Diane Sawyer in Ron Howard's "Frost/Nixon," "United 93," and "Kinsey."

Brenda Pressley appeared at The Vineyard in YOU DON'T MISS THE WATER. Her stage work includes: DREAMGIRLS (original company), THE AMERICAN PLAY, CATS, THE MOONEY SHAPIRO SONGBOOK, The First Breeze of Summer, Mom How Did You Meet the Beatles?, Seven Guitars, Fran's Bed, Goodwill, Marvin's Room, And The World Goes 'Round-The Songs of Kander and Ebb and Blues In The Night. Her TV and film work includes: "Cradle Will Rock," "Twisted," "Body of Proof," and "Brewster Place" (with Oprah Winfrey).

Michael Esper has been seen on Broadway in AMERICAN IDIOT and A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS. His Off-Broadway credits include THE INTELLIGENT HOMOSEXUAL'S GUIDE TO CAPITALISM AND SOCIALISM WITH A KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES, subUrbia, and THE AGONY AND THE AGONY. His regional credits include ME, MYSELF AND I at McCarter Theatre. His TV and film credits include: "All Good Things," "Bunker Hill," "A Beautiful Mind," and "Dying is Easy."

Gregory Wooddell appeared in CYMBELINE at Lincoln Center Theatre, in the world-premiere of Terrence McNally's SOME MEN at Philadelphia Theatre Center, the American premiere of SCHOOL OF NIGHT at Mark Taper Forum, and the world premiere of MIRACLE AT NAPLES at Huntington Theatre. His film and TV credits include "Exposed," "30 Rock," "Hard Ball," "The Paradise Virus," and "Third Watch."

Nicky Silver's plays include seven which have premiered at Vineyard Theatre: PTERODACTYLS (Oppenheimer Award, Kesselring Award, Drama Desk nom, Outer Critics Circle nom), RAISED IN CAPTIVITY (Drama Desk nom, Outer Critics Circle nom), THE EROS TRILOGY, THE MAIDEN'S PRAYER, THE ALTRUISTS, BEAUTIFUL CHILD and THE LYONS as well as MY MARRIAGE TO ERNEST BORGNINE (Vineyard Lab Production) , and THE AGONY AND THE AGONY (Vineyard Lab Production). Other notable plays include THREE CHANGES (Playwrights Horizons), THE FOOD CHAIN (Off-Broadway, Outer Critics Circle nom), FAT MEN IN SKIRTS, FIT TO BE TIED, FREE
WILL AND WANTON LUST (Helen Hayes Award), the new book for the Broadway revival of the Rodgers and Hart musical, THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE, and more.

Mark Brokaw directed the Vineyard Theatre's Pulitzer Prize-winning production of Paula Vogel's play HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, as well as Ms. Vogel's THE LONG CHRISTMAS RIDE HOME, Craig Lucas' THE DYING GAUL and STRANGER, Steven Tomlinson's AMERICAN FIESTA and Jeremy Dobrish's EIGHT DAYS (BACKWARDS) all at The Vineyard. He directed the musical CRY BABY on Broadway. Other Off-Broadway credits include AS BEES IN HONEY DROWN, Lisa Kron's 2.5 MINUTE RIDE, THE GOOD TIMES ARE KILLING ME and Kenneth Lonergan's LOBBY HERO.

The design team for THE LYONS is scenic design by Allen Moyer (The Vineyard's THE DYING GAUL; Tony nominee GREY GARDENS); lighting design by David Lander (The Vineyard's BEAUTIFUL CHILD; Tony nominee BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO); costume design by Michael Krass (The Vineyard's BEAUTIFUL CHILD, Tony nominee THE CONSTANT WIFE); and original music and sound design by David Van Tieghem (The Vineyard's THE METAL CHILDREN, LONG CHRISTMAS RIDE HOME, and on Broadway, THE NORMAL HEART).

One of the nation´s leading non-profit theatre companies dedicated to new plays and musicals and bold programming, The Vineyard has consistently premiered provocative, groundbreaking works including the Pulitzer Prize-winning productions of Edward Albee´s THREE TALL WOMEN and Paula Vogel´s HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, Tarell Alvin McCraney´s WIG OUT!, The Civilians´ THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY, Nicky Silver´s PTERODACTYLS and RAISED IN CAPTIVITY, the Laura Nyro
musical ELI´S COMIN´, A BOY AND HIS SOUL, written and performed by Colman Domingo, Adam Rapp´s THE METAL CHILDREN, Will Eno´s MIDDLETOWN, Christopher Shinn's PICKED and most recently, Lab Productions of NOW. HERE. THIS., the latest from the creators of [title of show], and the Broadway-bound revival of ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER.

Later this season, Vineyard Theatre will produce Zayd Dohrn's new play OUTSIDE PEOPLE as a co-production with Naked Angels, the world-premiere of NOW.HERE.THIS. from the creators and cast of [title of show], as well as a Lab Production of the musical THE LANDING by Tony Award winner John Kander and his new collaborator Greg Pierce, with David Hyde Pierce set to perform in the
4-person cast. Also, it was recently announced that The Vineyard would partner with The Actors Fund in a one-night-only benefit concert of the musical THE VISIT -- starring Chita Rivera and John Cullum -- by John Kander and Fred Ebb on November 30 at the Ambassador Theatre on Broadway.

Vineyard Theatre is a 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. The Vineyard produced the world-premiere of the musical THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS -- with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson, with direction and choreography Susan Stroman - in March 2010 and on Broadway. The Vineyard also produced the musical [title of show] both off and on Broadway.

Douglas Aibel is Artistic Director of the Vineyard Theatre, Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell is Executive Producer, Sarah Stern is Co-Artistic Director and Rebecca Habel is Managing Director.

Now scheduled through November 20, THE LYONS will perform Tuesdays at 7pm, Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm. Tickets are $70, with premium tickets available for $100, and can be purchased online at www.vineyardtheatre.org, or by calling the box office at 212 353 0303.