Orphans: Shia LaBeouf to make B'way debut

Shia LaBeouf will make his Broadway debut this spring in the premiere of Lyle Kessler's Orphans, directed by Daniel Sullivan, opening at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on 7 Apr 2013, following previews from 19 Mar 2013.

LaBeouf is best known by many for his role as "Sam Witwicky" in the "Tranformers" franchise of movies. Other cinema highlights include "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps," "Lawless," "The Company You Keep," "Lawless" and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." On TV he starred as "Louis Stevens" in the sitcom "Even Stevens." In 2008 he won the Bafta's Rising Star Award.

LaBeouf will star alongside the previously announced Alac Baldwin.

In Orphans, two orphaned brothers are living in a decrepit North Philadelphia row house. Treat (LaBeouf), the eldest, supports his damaged younger sibling 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) turns out to have his own motives and becomes the father figure the boys have always yearned for.

Casting for the role of 'Phillip' is still be be announced.

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.

The play was made into a movie in 1987 starring Albert Finney as 'Henry,' and Matthew Modine as 'Treat'

Director Daniel Sullivan won a Tony Award for 'Proof,' and received Tony nominations for his helming of 'The Heidi Chronicles,' 'Conversations With My Father,' 'The Sisters Rosensweig,' 'Morning's at Seven,' 'Rabbit Hole' and 'The Merchant of Venice. He is soon to direct Al Pacino and Bobby Cannavale in the upcoming Broadway revival of David Mamet's 'Glengarry Glen Ross.'