PlayBill
June 22 2005

Producer Will Assume Leading Role in Off-Broadway’s ‘Beast on the
Moon’

Kenneth Jones Playbill On-Line
41 minutes ago

While Omar Metwally takes time off from Beast on the Moon to shoot a
movie in July, the producers of the Off-Broadway drama have found the
perfect replacement – one of the producers.

For the month of July, starting June 30, producer David Grillo will
play Aram Tomasian, the Armenian immigrant who settles in Milwaukee
and carves out a new life with his haunted bride, played by Lena
Georgas, a refugee from the early-century Armenian genocide.

Tony Award nominee Omar Metwally’s temporary leave of absence is to
accommodate his work in a new Steven Spielberg film.

Grillo, who earned an MFA in acting from Yale School of Drama, played
the role of Aram in Boston in 1999, and acquired the New York
production rights two years ago.

Beast on the Moon is his first venture as commercial producer. His
producing partner for the project is Matt Salinger.

“I first fell in love with Beast on the Moon when I played Aram in
the Boston production,” Grillo said in a statement. “I knew then that
this was a play that had to reach New York audiences. I have been
standing-by for Omar since we began previews this spring. While Omar
is off filming, I am looking forward switching hats and revisiting
Richard Kalinoski’s beautiful play from an actor’s perspective.”

Omar Metwally is expected to return to Beast on the Moon in late
July, as the show heads into its 16th week of performances.
Understudy auditions for Grillo’s Aram are ongoing.

The cast also include Louis Zorich and Matt Borish. Larry Moss (The
Syringa Tree) directs.

Performances play Century Center for the Performing Arts (111 East
15th Street) Tuesday at 7 PM, Wednesday-Saturday at 8 PM with
matinees Wednesday at 2 PM, and Saturday and Sunday at 3 PM. Tickets
are $65 for all performances. Tickets and information are available
at Telecharge.com, (212) 239-6200.

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