DeMunn Replaces Blasted-Busy Birney in Belber's Geometry

By Ernio Hernandez
28 Oct 2008

Jeffrey DeMunn
Jeffrey DeMunn

Jeffrey DeMunn will replace the previously announced Reed Birney in Rattlestick Playwrights Theater's upcoming production of Stephen Belber's Geometry of Fire.

Birney has withdrawn from the production due to the extension of Sarah Kane's Blasted at SoHo Rep. Birney co-stars in the late Kane's play.

Lucie Tiberghien (The Pavilion) will stage the Belber (Match, Tape, Fault Lines) drama, which will play Off-Broadway Nov. 15-Dec. 14 with a Nov. 24 opening.

DeMunn, last seen in Off-Broadway's Stuff Happens and The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, has also appeared on the New York stage in Broadway's Our Town revival (with Paul Newman), Comedians, Hedda Gabler, Spoils of War, The Price and K2 (Tony nomination). The actor has also been seen in the films "The Green Mile," "The Shawshank Redemption," "The Majestic" and "The Mist."

DeMunn will be featured in a cast that also includes Donnie Keshawarz (Tarzan, Taboo), Jennifer Mudge (Fault Lines, The Pavilion) and newcomer Kevin O'Donnell.

Geometry of Fire centers on "an investment banker-turned-Marine-sniper recently returned from Iraq and a Saudi-American who just wants to get laid," as show notes explain. "In any other world, these two guys would be best friends. But when their lives collide in this one, each are forced to survive on the fly. Based on a true story."

The work had a developmental production at New York Stage & Film in July 2007 and underwent a reading at Rattlestick this past March. Birney had been attached since the NYS&F run; Mudge and Keshawarz were part of the reading.

The design team includes Robin Vest (sets), Anne Kennedy (costumes), Peter West (lights), Broken Chord Collective (sound) and Mary Robinette Kowal (props). Rick Sordelet handles fight choreography. Katrina Renee Herrmann is production stage manager.

The 14th anniversary season at Rattlestick continues with the world premiere of Sheila Callaghan's That Pretty Pretty; or, The Rape Play (Feb. 11-March 15, 2009).

Tickets to shows at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, 224 Waverly Place (between West 11th and Perry Street), are available at (212) 868-4444. For more information visit rattlestick.org.