Just when it seemed that actor Shia LaBeouf would be leading the upcoming revival production of "Orphans" in New York, he quit, apparently over creative differences, according to a press release issued to The Los Angeles Times on Wednesday.
LaBeouf left the show a month before preview performances were set to begin. But the show will still go on - "Orphans" will open at the Schoenfeld Theater on April 7, and previews begin on March 19. The production, directed by Daniel Sullivan, also features Alec Baldwin, who plays a powerful man kidnapped by two brothers, The L.A. Times reported.
The press release did not discuss the specifics of LaBeouf's "creative differences," or what actor would replace him.
"Orphans," by Lyle Kessler, debuted in 1983 at the Matrix Theatre in Los Angeles and is other nationwide theaters perform its revival. Director Alan Pakula turned it into a movie in 1987, with Albert Finney, Matthew Modine and Kevin Anderson in the cast. Al Pacino and Jesse Eisenberh appeared in a 2005 workshop production of the play at L.A.'s Greenway Court Theatre.
LaBeouf made his presence known in the Hollywood world when he starred in "Transformers" and the most recent "Indiana Jones" installment. But when he said that he was turning away from blockbusters in favor of more indie-style projects, he gained even more attention, The L.A. Times reported.
When he started with "Orphans," he had virtually no theater experience, having made his start in stand-up comedy, and ultimately landing a role in the Disney Channel's "Even Stevens."
Look for LaBeouf in his upcoming films, Robert Redford's "The Company You Keep," and Lars von Trier's "Nymphomaniac."
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