Best known for playing Melanie Marcus on "Queer as Folk," Clunie will play Abby opposite Vs. Theatre Company artistic director Clark as Ben. Ron Klier will direct the six-week engagement, which will open March 19 for a run through April 24.

Here's how Vs. Theatre bills the work: "Set on September 12, 2001, less than twenty-four hours after terrorists brought down the World Trade Center, The Mercy Seat introduces us to lovers Ben and Abby. Ben was supposed to have been working in the Twin Towers on that fateful day, but was playing hooky with Abby, his mistress and boss. Suddenly the two see a new possibility for their future that didn’t exist just a day earlier. Will Ben let his family know he’s alive?"

"Although set against the backdrop of September 11, the play is timeless - a testament to the mess love can make of our lives," Klier said in a statement. "Even in a time of national tragedy, life goes on. We proceed, preoccupied first and foremost with ourselves, with our needs and wants."

The Mercy Seat debuted Off-Broadway in 2002 under LaBute's direction. Liev Schreiber and Sigourney Weaver starred.

The production will have set design by Danny Cistone, lighting design by Derrick McDaniel and costume design by Gelareh Khalioun. Andrew Carlberg, Johnny Clark and Kimberly-Rose Wolter produce the run. LaBute's plays include Reasons to Be Pretty, Break of Noon, New Testament, Helter Skelter, Second of Pleasure, The Distance From Here, In a Dark Dark House, Autobahn, bash: latter-day plays, The Shape of Things, and the films "In the Company of Men," "Your Friends and Neighbors," "Nurse Betty," "Possession" and "Wicker Man." His play Fat Pig will arrive on Broadway with Dane Cook and Josh Hamilton this spring.

For tickets, phone (323) 461-3673 or visit FordTheatres. [Inside] the Ford is located in the Ford Theatres complex at 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood, CA.