Trip Cullman Directs PTERODACTYLS Reading at Vineyard Theatre Tonight

Vineyard Theatre continues its series of one-night-only readings of notable plays from its acclaimed history in celebration of the company's 30th Anniversary with Nicky Silver's award winning 1993 hit PTERODACTYLS, directed by Trip Cullman. An absurdist black comedy about the demise of the Duncan family, and, by extension, the species, PTERODACTYLS will feature Emmy Award-winner Penny Fuller (THE DINNER PARTY, APPLAUSE) as Duncan family matriarch, Grace; Tony-nominee Bobby Steggert (RAGTIME) as son, Todd; Virginia Kull (THE HEIRESS) as daughter, Emma; and Claybourne Elder (BONNIE & CLYDE) as Emma's fiancé Tommy (the role of family patriarch, Arthur, is TBD).

PTERODACTYLS will be performed tonight, December 10, 2012 at 7 PM at The Vineyard (108 E. 15 St., between Irving Place and Union Square East). Tickets are priced at $75 (which includes a pre-show toast in The Vineyard lobby) and are available by calling The Vineyard box office at 212-353-0303, or online at www.vineyardtheatre.org. Proceeds from the reading will benefit The Vineyard's 2012-2013 productions and programs.

One of the first plays on the American stage to deal with a family's response to the AIDS epidemic, PTERODACTYLS was the winner of both the Kesselring and Oppenheimer Awards. It was the first play of nine by Mr. Silver presented by The Vineyard, the others being RAISED IN CAPTIVITY (1995), MY MARRIAGE TO Ernest Borgnine (1997), THE MAIDEN'S PRAYER (1998), EROS TRILOGY (1999), THE ALTRUISTS (2000), BEAUTIFUL CHILD (2004), THE AGONY AND THE AGONY (2006), and, most recently, last season's THE LYONS, which transferred to Broadway this past spring.

Penny Fuller appeared in Mr. Silver's play BEAUTIFUL CHILD at The Vineyard in 2004. Bobby Steggert was last seen on The Vineyard stage in the 2008 musical THE SLUG BEARERS OF KAYROL ISLAND OR, THE FRIENDS OF DR. RUSHOWER by Ben Katchor and Mark Mulcahy.

Vineyard Theatre, one of the nation's leading non-profit theatre companies, is thrilled to be celebrating its 30th anniversary. Dedicated to new plays and musicals and bold programming, the company has consistently developed and premiered provocative, groundbreaking works, including Kander, Ebb and Thompson's THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS; Marx, Lopez and Whitty's AVENUE Q, Bell and Bowen's [TITLE OF SHOW]; Paula Vogel's HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE (1998 Pulitzer Prize), Edward Albee's THREE TALL WOMEN (1994 Pulitzer Prize); Tarrell Alvin McCrainey's WIG OUT!; Will Eno's MIDDLETOWN; and new works by Julia Cho, Adam Rapp, Christopher Shinn, Gina Gionfriddo, Lynn Nottage, Ben Katchor and Mark Mulcahy, and many more. The Vineyard's productions have been honored with two Pulitzer Prizes, three Tony Awards, and numerous Drama Desk, OBIES, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards.

Douglas Aibel is The Vineyard's Artistic Director; Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell is Executive Producer; Sarah Stern is Co-Artistic Director, and Michael Page is General Manager.

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