The Dream of the Burning Boy: cast announced

Roundabout Theatre Company have announced the full cast for The Dream of the Burning Boy, a new play by David West Read, directed by Evan Cabnet, opening at the Black Box Theatre on 23 Mar 2011, following previews from 25 Feb 2011, and playing through to 8 May 2011.

The Dream of the Burning Boy will feature Reed Birney (Larry), Josh Caras (Dane), Matt Dellapina (Steve), Jake O'Connor (Kyle), Jessica Rothenberg (Chelsea), Kristie Dale Sanders (Andrea) and Alexandra Socha (Rachel).

The Dream of the Burning Boy tells of the sudden death of a high school overachiever exposes a secret that could destroy those left behind, or bring them closer together. A bittersweet story of choices made, opportunities lost, and finding the strength to move on.

The creative team includes Lee Savage (Sets), Jessica Wegener Shay (Costumes), Ben Stanton (Lighting) & Jill BC DuBoff (Sound).

The play marks the first time a two-production season has been produced at Roundabout Underground since the program premiered in 2007. The Dream of the Burning Boy follows the critically acclaimed & sold out hit 'Tigers Be Still' from fall 2010.

This the fifth production of Roundabout Underground, an initiative launched in 2007 to introduce and cultivate artists in Roundabout's 62-seat Black Box Theatre, at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre. Prior productions include 'Speech & Debate (2007), The Language of Trees (2008), Ordinary Days (2009) & Tigers Be Still (2010).

Roundabout Underground is an initiative to showcase new plays that will either allow an experienced director to go back to his/her creative roots or give a debut production to an emerging writer or director. Robyn Goodman (Artistic Consultant to the Roundabout), who has significant artistic development experience, is curating the initiative that continues to be a creative breeding ground for nurturing new talent.

Bios:

Reed Birney (Larry) is currently starring in Adam Bock's 'A Small Fire' at Playwrights Horizons where he last year he appeared in Annie Baker's 'Circle Mirror Transformation.' Last Fall at The Roundabout Underground he was in Kim Rosenstock's 'Tigers Be Still.' Other notable NY roles include Sarah Kane's 'Blasted 'at Soho Rep, 'Tony Blair' in 'Stuff Happens' at The Public Theater, and 'Homebody/Kabul' at BAM.

Josh Caras (Dane) first theater appearance was at the age of 12 in a production of 'On Golden Pond' at the Ivoryton Playhouse. At the age of 15 he began to audition for film and television. Since then he has appeared in a number of independent films, including "Bugcrush," "Assassination of a High School President" and "Gracie."

Matt Dellapina (Steve). Off-Broadway: 'In The Footprint' (Irondale), 'underneathmybed' (Rattlestick), 'Telephone' (Foundry), 'Tender' (Public Theater, SPF),'#9' (Waterwell),' Gone Missing' (Barrow Street), 'I Am Nobody's Lunch' (59E59), 'The Parrot' (Flea), 'The Angel Project' (Lincoln Center Festival). Film/TV: "Safe," "Proud Iza," "Onion SportsDome" (Comedy Central) and "Law & Order".

Jake O'Connor (Kyle). Off-Broadway- 'Randolph' in 'Wildflower' at Second Stage. Television- "Gossip Girl", "Fringe", "Rescue Me", "The Big C", "Lights Out", and "Body of Proof". Film- "Margaret" and "Return to Sleepaway Camp."

Jessica Rothenberg (Chelsea) is making her Roundabout debut, Regional credits include the Nicholas Martin and Kate Burton production of 'The Cherry Orchard' (Huntington Theatre), as well as Kevin Moriarty's 'HAIR' (Hangar Theatre). She can soon be seen in the upcoming feature film "The Art Of Love," starring Olympia Dukakis and Zosia Mamet.

Kristie Dale Sanders (Andrea). Broadway: 'Next Fall,' 'Phantom,' 'Urinetown' and 'The Sound of Music.' Off-Broadway: 'Johnny Guitar,' 'A Class Act' and 'Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh.' TV: "All My Children" and "The Wire".

Alexandra Socha (Rachel). Broadway: 'Spring Awakening' (Wendla), 'Brighton Beach Memoirs' (Nora), Roundabout Theatre Company's Benefit of 'A Little Night Music' (Fredrika) with Vanessa Redgrave. Television: "The Big C" and "White Collar."

David West Read (Playwright) is currently a Lila Acheson Wallace Playwriting Fellow at The Juilliard School, and a recent graduate of the MFA program in Dramatic Writing at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. His play The Dream of the Burning Boy was developed at the 2010 National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. His work has been featured in the Pacific Playwrights Festival at South Coast Repertory, the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival, NYU's Festival of New Works, the Toronto Fringe, and the SummerWorks Festival, and he is currently working on a commission for South Coast Repertory.

Evan Cabnet (Director). Credits include: David West Read's The Dream of the Burning Boy at the O'Neill National Playwrights' Conference and the World Premiere of Michele Lowe's 'Map of Heaven' at Denver Center Theatre, Elizabeth Meriwether's 'Oliver Parker!' (Cherry Lane, world premiere), Bekah Brunstetter's 'Oohrah!' (Atlantic Theatre Company, world premiere), Mark Schultz's 'The Gingerbread House' (stageFARM at the Rattlestick, world premiere), Donald Margulies' 'Shipwrecked!' (Long Wharf Theater, East Coast premiere), Elizabeth Meriwether's 'The Mistakes Madeline Made' (Naked Angels, world premiere).