Billy Crudup to Star in Rapp's METAL CHILDREN at Vineyard Theatre

The Tony Award-winning actor BILLY CRUDUP will star in the world-premiere of Adam Rapp's play THE METAL CHILDREN, which begins previews May 4 prior to opening May 19, 2010 at the Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.), it has been announced by Douglas Aibel, Artistic Director of the Vineyard. Directed by Adam Rapp, additional casting for the play is to be announced.

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.

Mr. 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.

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 opens March 10 -- 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.