Gregory Boyd directs the work penned by The Kentucky Cycle Pulitzer Prize winner scheduled to begin Dec. 1 and open Dec. 11 for a run slated through Jan. 22, 2006 at the California stage. Billed as "a tragic-comedy in two centuries, Lewis and Clark Reach the Euphrates begins with a directive from President Thomas Jefferson to search for a water route to the Pacific ends up taking the titular explorers on a time-and-space bending journey.

James Barbour (Assassins, Beauty and the Beast) and Jeffrey Nordling (Take Me Out - Geffen Playhouse) will play the title roles with a cast that includes Roy Abramsohn, Tony Amendola, Rubén C. González, Eugene Lee, Tess Lina, Ty Mayberry, Randy Oglesby and Morgan Rusler.

The design team features Jeff Cowie (set), Judith Dolan (costumes), Howell Binkley (lighting), John Gromada (music and sound), Carol F. Doran (wigs and hair) and Marc I. Rosenthal (projection). Fight direction is handled by Steve Rankin. Tom Bryant serves as dramaturg.

The 2005-2006 Taper season will continue with Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard (Feb. 2-March 19, 2006), Joshua Sobol's iWitness (March 30-May 21, 2006), Alfred Uhry's Without Walls (June 1-July 16, 2006) and Culture Clash's Water & Power (July 27-Sept. 17, 2006).

Tickets to Lewis and Clark Reach the Euphrates at the Taper, 135 North Grand Ave. in Los Angeles, CA can be purchased by calling (213) 628-2772 or on-line at www.TaperAhmanson.com.