The work will begin at the Seattle company's Bagley Wright Theatre Jan. 10 and open Jan. 16 for a run through Feb. 9.

The cast will feature John Aylward; Michelove René Bain; Michael Braun; Kelly Conway; Crystal Fox; William Hall, Jr.; Nike Imoru; Hubert Point-Du Jour; and Michele Shay.

In The Breach, playwrights Filloux, McCraney and Sutton "weave together three unique and separate stories from those who survived the storm," according to an announcement. "In its exploration of the impacts of Katrina, the play taps the conspiracy theories, loss and nascent hope of this devastated American region."

The work was presented in public readings in theatres and FEMA trailers throughout the South last fall.

The design team includes Dana Perreault (scenic), Elizabeth Hope Clancy (costume), Jim Ingalls (lighting), Mark Bennett (sound and composer) and LB Morse (projections). Sonia Dawkins is the choreographer. Geoff Alm handles fight choreography. The stage manager is Elizabeth Farwell.

Director Esbjornson — who serves as artistic director for the company — has staged Twelfe Night, The Lady From Dubuque, The Great Gatsby, Tuesdays with Morrie and the world premiere of Ariel Dorfman's Purgatorio at Seattle Rep. Other credits include Broadway's The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? and The Ride Down Mt. Morgan and Off-Broadway's Trumpery, Memory House, The Oldest Profession, Much Ado About Nothing, The Normal Heart and The Play About the Baby.

The Rep season continues with Robert Schenkkan's By the Waters of Babylon (Jan. 31-March 2, 2008), Molière's The Imaginary Invalid (Feb. 21-March 22, 2008), Kevin Kling's how? how? why? why? (March 13-April 19, 2008) and The Cure at Troy by Seamus Heaney (April 3-May 3, 2008).

Tickets to The Breach at Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer Street in Seattle, WA, are on sale by calling (206) 443-2222, toll free at (877) 900-9285 or online at seattlerep.org.