A.C.T. artistic director Kurt Beattie directs a cast featuring Kimberly King, Charles Leggett, Benjamin Harris, Michael Winters, Anna-Lisa Carlson, R. Hamilton Wright and Suzanne Bouchard.

Commissioned as a part of A.C.T.'s New Works for the American Stage program, the new comedy will officially open Oct. 23 and run through Nov. 16.

Press notes for Becky's New Car ask: "Ever been tempted to flee your own life? Then you can sympathize with Becky, who soldiers through her not-quite-satisfying existence with unnervingly familiar quiet desperation. When a socially inept millionaire falls for her at first sight, he offers her nothing short of a new life."

In a statement A.C.T. artistic director Kurt Beattie said, "This is a delightful, life-affirming comic play about the road not often taken and the soul of a woman pulled in two directions, romantically and socially. And will either road lead to happiness? I think it is one of Steven Dietz's best and most delicious plays. It is an honor to work on this world premiere."

Designing the world-premiere production are Catherine Hunt (costume design), William Bloodgood (scenic design), Rick Paulsen (lighting design), and Eric Chappelle and Ben Zamora (lighting design). Dietz is also the playwright of Last of the Boys, Honus and Me, Fiction, Still Life with Iris, Lonely Planet, Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure, Inventing Van Gogh, God's Country, Private Eyes, The Nina Variations and More Fun Than Bowling. Upcoming projects include commissioned works for the McCarter Theatre (City of Ghosts), Steppenwolf (Near Aberdeen) and two unnamed works for the Guthrie and Denver Center Theatre Company.

For tickets phone (206) 292-7676 or visit ACT.

ACT is located at 700 Union Street in Seattle, WA.