Tim Realbuto, the New York stage actor who recently wrapped principal photography playing the lead role in YES, his first major motion picture, will conceive, co-direct and produce a revival of Neil Simon’s Tony Award winning play LOST IN YONKERS on Sunday, December 9th at 7:30 pm.

The evening will be presented as a reading with proceeds from ticket sales going to The National Alzheimer’s Association, in honor of the late Neil Simon who recently passed away from the disease. The Neil Simon estate has personally given Realbuto the rights to produce this one-night-only special event (they currently aren’t releasing the rights to any of Simon’s plays, following his death).

The other half of the proceeds will go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, in honor of Marin Mazzie.

Realbuto will play the role of Louie Kurnitz, which was made famous on stage by Kevin Spacey in a Tony Award winning performance and on film by Richard Dreyfuss.

In a statement, Realbuto said: “Growing up, I must have watched the wonderful LOST IN YONKERS film hundreds of times. I fell madly in love with Bella and her family. I dreamed of playing Jay or Artie. Now, I’m way too old for that dream to come true, but I can’t believe that I get the chance to bring this amazing story back to NYC with such an exceptional cast and for such a beautiful purpose. Neil Simon’s characters and stories will truly live on forever. And the chance to be a small part of that legacy, even though it’s just little sliver, well, that’s certainly a dream come true.”

The rest of the all-star cast will be announced in the coming weeks. However, Realbuto has announced the casting of the two young stars of the show.

Aidan Gemme, who was the original Peter Llewelyn Davies in Broadway’s FINDING NEVERLAND, will lead the cast as older brother Jay Kurnitz. His younger brother Artie will be played by Drew Logan Powell, the star of Bryan Cranston’s recent Amazon series THE DANGEROUS BOOK FOR BOYS.

Gemme’s other Broadway credits include WAITING FOR GODOT opposite Patrick Stuart, Sir Ian McKellen, Billy Crudup, and Shuler Hensley. He made his Broadway debut as Michael Banks in DISNEY’S MARY POPPINS. Off-Broadway, Gemme starred as Snoopy In YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN at the York Theatre Company, and appeared in RUNAWAYS at City Center. On screen, Mr. Gemme has played lead roles in TOMORROWLAND; DELIVER US FROM EVIL; MALCOLM; SANTA PAWS 2: THE SANTA PUPS; and TREASURE BUDDIES. He has also voiced many characters on the hit Nickelodeon children’s show “DORA THE EXPLORER.”

Powell made his stage debut Off-Broadway, playing Tim Realbuto’s son in THE WEAK ONES (2016 Thespis Award Nominee). He also stars as Realbuto’s younger self in the upcoming feature film YES (set for release in 2019). Aside from THE DANGEROUS BOOK FOR BOYS, Mr. Powell has also appeared on screen in ROCKAWAY; SPIT; WHISTLEBLOWERS; TOY SOLDIERS; and starred as Young Weller on NBC’s “BLINDSPOT.”

The evening, which was supposed to take place at Playwrights Horizons, has been moved due to a scheduling issue. The new venue will be announced soon and tickets will go on sale at the beginning of November (UPDATE: Tickets can be purchased HERE).

Realbuto will co-direct the evening with Paul Mitchell Wilder. Mr. Wilder directed the premiere of MANAHATTA, which later workshopped at The Public Theatre In NYC. Ryan A. Ross (DESPERATE MEASURES) will serve as the Production Stage Manager.

Although Realbuto, Gemme, and Powell are the only ones confirmed, the rest of the cast will be announced in the coming weeks.