Alec Baldwin & ORPHANS Cast Reacts to Shia LaBeouf Departure

ORPHANS began performances on March 19 and open on April 7 2013 at the Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street), marking the first Broadway staging of the play. Emmy winner and Tony Award and Oscar nominee Alec Baldwin, SAG and Emmy Award winner Ben Foster and Tom Sturridge star in Lyle Kessler's play, directed by Daniel Sullivan and produced by Frederick Zollo and Robert Cole.

The trio of actors recently chatted with the New York Times about the new play, as well as the now infamous exit of Shia LaBeouf- who was originally set to star alongside Baldwin and Sturridge.

When asked their reactions to LaBeouf's Twitter war, Sturridge responded: "I think what is so beautiful about the rehearsal process is that it's a safe place for an actor. It's a place where you can take risks, screw up, explore, and it's safe because it's private. I think it's not fair to make public or investigate what happened in the rehearsal room because that sets a precedent for people to talk about what goes on in rehearsal rooms." Baldwin then added: "I respect what you're saying, but someone in the rehearsal room did go public with that information."

Click here to watch the full interview.

In the play, two orphaned brothers are living in a decrepit North Philadelphia row house. Treat, the eldest, (LaBeouf), supports his damaged younger sibling Philip (Sturridge) by petty thievery, and makes the house a virtual prison for the seemingly simple-minded Phillip. One night he kidnaps a rich older man, Harold (Baldwin), who turns out to have his own motives and becomes the father figure the boys have always yearned for.

ORPHANS premiered in 1983 at The Matrix Theatre in Los Angeles where it won the Drama-Logue Award. Following its 1985 engagement at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre, the play had a successful run at New York's Westside Arts Theatre and was subsequently produced in London. A film version was also produced.

For more about the production, go to www.orphansonbroadway.com.