Dick Latessa, Brenda Pressley, et al. Join Vinyard Theatre's THE LYONS

Tony Award winner Dick Latessa and actresses Kate Jennings Grant and Brenda Pressley have joined the cast of Nicky Silver's play THE LYONS, being given its world-premiere this fall with previews beginning September 21 prior to an official opening night October 11 at Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.), it has been announced by Vineyard Theatre artistic director Douglas Aibel and co-artistic director Sarah Stern.

Mr. Latessa, Ms. Jennings Grant and Ms. Pressley join THE LYONS' previously-announced cast members, Tony Award winner Linda Lavin, Michael Esper and Gregory Wooddell. The play is directed by Mark Brokaw, whose numerous directing credits include Vineyard productions of THE DYING GAUL, HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, THE LONG CHRISTMAS RIDE HOME, EIGHT DAYS (BACKWARDS) and AMERICAN FIESTA.

THE LYONS -- Mr. Silver's seventh new play to premiere at The Vineyard -- is an outrageously funny and stirring work about a family grappling with the impending death of its patriarch. When Ben Lyons' wife, Rita, and their grown children gather to say goodbye, they learn that despite being a family, each of them is utterly isolated. Afraid of closeness and afraid of solitude, they are propelled into foreign territory - human connection.

Vineyard Theatre has also announced the design team for THE LYONS: scenic design is by Allen Moyer (The Vineyard's THE DYING GAUL; Tony nominee GREY GARDENS); lighting design by David Lander (The Vineyard's BEAUTIFUL CHILD; Tony nominee BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO); costume design by Michael Krass (The Vineyard's BEAUTIFUL CHILD, Tony nominee THE CONSTANT WIFE); and original music and sound design by David Van Tieghem (The Vineyard's THE METAL
CHILDREN, LONG CHRISTMAS RIDE HOME, and on Broadway, THE NORMAL HEART).

Linda Lavin won a Tony Award, as well as Drama Desk, Outer Critics' and Helen Hayes Awards, for her performance in BROADWAY BOUND in 1987. She is a five-time Tony nominee for her roles in THE LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS, THE DIARY OF Anne Frank, THE TALE OF THE ALLERGIST'S WIFE, and most recently,COLLECTED STORIES. She was a two-time Golden Globe winner for her role as Alice on the TV show "Alice". Most recently she was seen off-Broadway in OTHER DESERT CITIES, for which she earned Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Lucille Lortel Award nominations. Her recent film credits include roles in "The Back-Up Plan" and "Wanderlust." Linda was born, raised and educated inPortland, Maine and graduated from the College of William and Mary, which recently conferred on her a Doctor of Arts degree. She started her stage career in the chorus of musical and credits her great friend and mentor, Harold Prince, with changing her life by casting her in her first speaking role on a New York stage and other roles thereafter. When not touring her concert act with her musical director, Billy Stritch, or promoting her new CD, entitled "Possibilities," she and her multi-talented husband and drummer, Steve Bakunas, manage the Red Barn Studio, a 47-seat community theatre they built in Wilmington, North Carolina, for which they have also performed or directed nine plays in the past three years, among them DOUBT, DRIVING MISS DAISY, SPEED-THE-PLOW, THE TALE OF THE ALLERGIST'S WIFE, COLLECTED STORIES and RABBIT HOLE. They also have a beagle/jack named Mickey and a wonderful life.

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