Just keep in mind that the lead role boy probably didn't start out in lead roles.  He probably had smaller roles.  Just concentrate on doing the best you can with your role.  The playwright put it there for a reason.  As much as all that publicity is nice, it can be distracting.  Keep your eye on the end goal and have fun, be professional in your attitude and remember that everybody had to start somewhere.

You say it's professional theatre.   Then have a professional attitude.  You say he has the bigger part so does it not make sense that the publicity might revolve around him.

Yes, you are being petty.   You're getting paid for what some people only dream they could spend their life doing professionally. 

SUCK IT UP and act professionally!!     Do you really think that anyone that sees the show cares about the publicity this or that actor got.   Perform well and don't have an attitude and your work will be recognized by the right people who will be able to do more for you than the publicity of a single show.

I challenge you to bring your "problem" to the producers of the show.  You and I both know that they'll tell you to pound sand.

Sorry if you didn't get much sympathy here.  Break a leg!

Yup it was harsh and that was the intent.   And you should be sorry for being petty. 

Waah, waah....your feelings were hurt because your name didn't appear in the paper.   Would you be feeling this way if you were getting the publicity and the other guy wasn't?  

Why not try some shameless self promotion and email, IM, text message, phone or send smoke signals to all of your friends, relatives, aquaintances....agents even...and say hey come see me in this fabulous show.

You may not understand yet that life isn't fair, the theatre certainly isn't, and never will be.  Get used to it.   (and if you're thinking that it should be that's an entirely different discussion /argument having nothing to do with reality).

Now learn your lines, be on time and don't bump into the furniture!!

Have you the heard the one about Oprah Winfrey?  

When she was cast in the movie "Color Purple", she was not big enough  to have her name on the movie poster.  Poor thing just had that little talk show in Chicago.

All good things in time.

We've all carried spears.  Try to remember that the publicity (which is the issue for the producers) has nothing to do with the artistic values of the play (which is your issue).

Did you ever see Shakespeare in Love?  If not, go rent it right now.  I'll wait.

Hm, hm, la la la la . . .

Oh, you're back?  Good. 

Anyway, remember the bit at the party after Romeo and Juliet opens?  Some people who haven't seen it are asking the guy who plays the nurse what it's about, and he answers, "It's about this nurse . . . "

That's what your attitude should be, not for publicity purposes (after all, did any of the reviews of The Godfather mention Third Mobster From the Left?), and definitely not for display in front of your fellow actors, but for your preparation of the role.  TO YOU, your role is the most important. 

Playwright, who posted above, is a, well, playwright, so she knows whereof she speaks.  It is absolutely true that every role is in the play for a reason.  Find that reason, and play the hell out of it.  And next time, or the time after, you'll be Lead Role Boy  and somebody will be complaining about all the publicity you're getting!

PS to Gaafa:  Oh, how I wish you had said "a stage manager with one leg named Ralph" so I could ask "what was the name of his other leg."  But you didn't.