Former "Brat Pack" Hollywood stars Andrew McCarthy and Ally Sheedy have both made forays into the theatre before, he in Broadway's Side Man and she in Off Broadway's Advice From a Caterpillar. In December, they'll join the Off-Broadway cast of Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen'sThe Exonerated, a true life drama based on the experiences of former death-row inmates directed by Bob Balaban ("Gosford Park," "Best in Show").

Sheedy will play a one-week engagement in the drama Dec. 10-15 paired with Richard Dreyfuss, who opened the show's Off-Broadway run. McCarthy plays two weeks over the Christmas and New Year's holidays, with Jeff Goldblum (Dec. 23-29) and with Lynn Redgrave (Dec. 30-Jan. 5).

Bebe Neuwirth ("Cheers," Chicago, Damn Yankees) will perform Dec. 3-8 alongside Chad Lowe, who will also play opposite Goldblum on Dec. 17-22. Future cast members are Christine Lahti (Jan. 7-12, 2003), the return of Jill Clayburgh (Jan. 14-19), Penn Jillette, Rob Morrow and Mary Steenburgen (Jan. 21-26) and Judy Collins and Elliott Gould (Jan. 28-Feb. 2).

Remaining with the cast through the rotating celebrities are Charles Brown (Delbert Tibbs), David Brown (Robert Hayes), Bruce Kronenberg (ensemble), Phil Levy (ensemble), Curtis McClarian (David Keaton) and April Thompson (Georgia Hayes).

The Exonerated is drawn from the stories of a half-dozen former death row inmates who shared a variety of experiences and feelings with playwrights Blank and Jensen. Most described losing their faith in the justice system, while discovering that it was the resources available to a defense team that made the difference between achieving justice or experiencing a miscarriage of it. The Exonerated plays at Off-Broadway's 45 Bleecker, where it opened Oct. 10. Tickets are $55. 45 Bleecker is located at 45 Bleecker Street. For reservations, call (212) 307-4100.

— by Christine Ehren
and Ernio Hernandez