Orphans: casting call reveals that Al Pacino will star in Lyle Kessler's dark comedy

A casting call posted today reveals that a Al Pacino will star as Harold in the Broadway premiere of Lyle Kessler's dark comedy Orphans, directed by David Esbjornson.

The production will begin rehearsals in late November 2008, which suggests it will arrive on Broadway in early 2009 at a theatre to be announced.

Orphans: Orphaned brothers Treat and Phillip live in a squalid New Jersey tenement where dominant sibling Treat, so fearful that he will lose his brother keeps him imprisoned in their home and terrorizes him with tales of what would happen were he to go outside. Treat meanwhile works the streets of New York as a petty thief where he meets Harold, a prosperous-looking drunk. Treat lures Harold to their home, whereupon discovering he's wealthy decides to hold him for ransom. What Treat doesn�t know is that Harold is a gangster and that both he and his brother are actually less in need of his money than his presence as a father figure in their lives.

The casting call is for:

Treat: 20 - 25, A bruised soul; has devoted his life to caring for his brother, and is constantly riding a wave of anger at the way life has treated them.

Phillip: 20 - 25, Feral child in a man?s body ? full of wild energy and innocence.

The play will be produced on Broadway by Frederick Zollo, Jeffrey Sine and Bill Kenwright.

Orphans was released as a film in 1987, directed by Alan J. Pakula and starring Albert Finney as Harold, Matthew Modine as Treat and Kevin Anderson as Phillip.

Al Pacino was last seen on Broadway in 'Salome' (2003). He is the winner of two Tony Awards for Best Actor: 'The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel' (1977 revival) and 'Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?' (1969). He won an Oscar in 1993 for 'Scent of a Woman. And two BAFTA awards in 1976 for 'The Godfather: Part II" and "Dog Day Afternoon'. Despite his many film credits, he is still known to many for his role as Don Michael Corleone in the "Godfater" movies.

David Esbjornson is the artistic director of Seattle Repertory Theatre. His Broadway credits are 'The Ride Down Mt. Morgan' (2000) and 'The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?' (2002). He also directed B'obbi Boland,' on Broadway, but that play never officially opened, as it closed after only playing seven previews.

Lyle Kessler's plays include: 'Burning Bright,' 'The Engagement,' 'The Family Circle,' 'Possessions,' and 'The Watering Place' which played on Broadway in 1969.