The two classics, which opened at the Donmar in London last autumn, will run in repertory through March 9, a month later than the originally-announced Feb. 9 closing date. Both are at the Harvey Theater. Academy Award nominee Emily Watson and esteemed British actor and New York Times favorite Simon Russell Beale head the casts of both shows. Beale will play Vanya and Malvolio, while Watson is Viola in Twelfth Night and Yelena in Vanya. David Bradley, Helen McCrory, Cherry Morris and Mark Strong are also featured in the cast. All recreate the roles they played in London.

Playwright Brian Friel, author of Translations and Philadelphia, Here I Come!, has written the adaptation of the Chekhov classic.

Late last year, American producers Anita Waxman and Elizabeth Williams revealed their intention to bring the Donmar stagings to New York. However, their original intention was to mount them on Broadway. At the time, Nicole Kidman, who starred in the Donmar's The Blue Room, was rumored to be the star. Kidman was later replaced by Watson, a veteran of such films as "Cradle Will Rock" and "Gosford Park."

In December, Sam Mendes stepped down as artistic director of the Donmar, the off-West End Covent Garden theatre that he has turned into one of the most successful and fashionable in London over a 10-year period. Leaving the Donmar will enable him to concentrate on theatre and film production. He won an Oscar for his debut film "American Beauty." His latest film effort was "The Road to Perdition," starring Tom Hanks.