Reed Birney and More Set for The Dream of the Burning Boy at Roundabout Underground

Casting has been announced for David West Read’s The Dream of the Burning Boy, which will begin performances at Roundabout Theatre's black box space, Roundabout Underground, on February 25. Reed Birney will lead a cast that also includes Josh Caras, Matt Dellapina, Jake O’Connor, Jessica Rothenberg, Kristie Dale Sanders and Alexandra Socha. Evan Cabnet will direct the production, which is set to open on and officially open March 23.

In The Dream of the Burning Boy the sudden death of a high school overachiever exposes a secret that could destroy those left behind, or bring them closer together. Since the death of one of his favorite students, high school teacher Larry Morrow (Birney) has been falling asleep at his desk and dreaming. The school's guidance counselor is hanging inspirational posters designed to help everyone "process their emotions." The boy's sister and friends, disinterested by Dante, are more agitated and hormonal than usual, and as Larry's dreams intensify, the shocking secret comes out.

Birney has appeared off-Broadway in Adam Bock’s A Small Fire, Circle Mirror Transformation, Blasted, Stuff Happens, Homebody/Kabul and Roundabout Underground’s most recent production, Tigers Be Still. Caras has been seen on stage in On Golden Pond and independent films Bugcrush, Assassination of a High School President and Gracie. Dellapina’s off-Broadway credits include In the Footprint, underneathmybed, Gone Missing and I Am Nobody’s Lunch. O’Connor has been seen off-Broadway in Wildflower, and Rothenberg’s stage credits include the Nicholas Martin and Kate Burton production of The Cherry Orchard. Sanders has appeared on Broadway in Next Fall, Phantom of the Opera, Urinetown and The Sound of Music. Socha played Wendla in Spring Awakening and appeared in Brighton Beach Memoirs.

The Dream of the Burning Boy's creative team includes Lee Savage (sets), Jessica Wegener Shay (costumes), Ben Stanton (lighting) and Jill BC DuBoff (sound).