War Horse: cast announced

Casting has been announced for Nick Stafford's adaptation of Michael Morpurgo's book, War Horse, resented by Lincoln Center Theater and the National Theatre in association with Bob Boyett.. The play opens at the Vivian Beaumont Theater on 14 Apr 2010, following previews from 17 Mar, and running through to 26 Jun 2011, p

Featured in the cast of 35 will be Stephen James Anthony, Zach Appelman, Alyssa Breshnahan, Richard Crawford, Sanjit de Silva, Matt Doyle, Austin Durant, Joby Earle, Koel Reuben Ganz, Ariel Heller, Peter Hermann, Alex Hoeffler, Brian Lee Huynh, Jeslyn Kelly, Ian Lassiter, Tom Lee, Jonathan Christopher MacMillan, Jonathan David Martin, Boris Mc Giver, Seth Numrich, Prentice Onayemi, Bhavesh Patel, David Pegram, Katy Pfaffl, Stephen Plunkett, Leenya Rideout, Liam Robinson, Jude Sandy, Hannah Sloat, T. Ryder Smith, Zach Villa, Elliot Villar, Cat Walleck, Enrico D. Wey and Madeline Yen.

War Horse: At the outbreak of World War One, Joey, young Albert's beloved horse, is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France. He's soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary odyssey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man's land. But Albert cannot forget Joey and, still not old enough to enlist, he embarks on a mission to find him and bring him home.

War Horse premiered at the National Theatre in Nov 2007, directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris and in association with Handspring Puppet Company.

After two sold-out runs at the National War Horse moved to London's West End in Mar 2009 where it continues to play to capacity houses at the New London Theatre.

The American premiere, which reunites the production's acclaimed London design team, will have scenic design by Rae Smith, puppetry by Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler for Handspring, lighting by Paule Constable, movement and horse choreography by Toby Sedgwick, video by Leo Warner and Mark Grimmer, music by Adrian Sutton, songs by John Tams, and sound design by Christopher Shutt.

In addition to War Horse, Michael Morpurgo is the author of over 100 childrens' books. A former teacher, he was awarded a MBE (with his wife) for his service to education and an OBE for service to literature.

Nick Stafford's plays have been produced at such theaters as the National Theatre, RSC and Hampstead Theatre Club. He is the winner of the Dennis Potter Play of the Year Award for his screenplay Pity.

Marianne Elliott (co-director) is Associate Director at the National Theatre where her other productions include 'Saint Joan' (Olivier Award - Best Revival) and 'Pillars of the Community' (Evening Standard Best Director Award). Her other productions include 'Much Ado About Nothing' for the RSC and 'The Little Foxes' for the Donmar Warehouse.

Tom Morris (co-director) is Artistic Director of Bristol Old Vic and also an Associate Director at the National Theatre where he co-directed 'Every Good Boy Deserves Favor' and developed 'Coram Boy.' His other credits as a director include 'Oedipus The King,' 'All That Fall' and 'Macbeth' with Corin Redgrave.