Hartford Stage artistic director Michael Wilson (Enchanted April) will direct the work for his stage, confirmed a company spokesperson. Parsons was last seen on the Connecticut stage in Samuel Beckett's Happy Days in 1998. The actress, who directed the recent Broadway staging of Salome, has been Tony Award-nominated for her turns in Morning's at Seven, Miss Margarida's Way, And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little and The Seven Descents of Myrtle. She is also known as the mother to the title character in "Roseanne" and the Academy Award winner for her turn in the film "Bonnie and Clyde."

Set in a museum gallery in Leningrad in 1956, The Bay at Nice revolves around an attempt to authenticate a suspect painting. The title refers to the work of art by Matisse. The play made its world premiere — with another Hare work, Wrecked Eggs — at London's Royal National Theatre in 1986 with Irene Worth and Zoe Wanamaker starring.

Playwright Hare has penned The Breath of Life, The Permanent Way, Amy's View, The Blue Room, The Judas Kiss, Racing Demon and Via Dolorosa — which he performed himself in London and on Broadway.

The rest of the upcoming season at Hartford is expected to include Regina Taylor's Crowns, Joe Orton's What the Butler Saw, Eduardo Machado's The Cook, Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, William Shakespeare's Othello and the holiday staging of A Christmas Carol. No official announcement has been made or dates have been set.

Hartford Stage is located at 50 Church Street in downtown Hartford, CT. For more information, call (860) 527-5151 or www.hartfordstage.org.