A.R.T. associate director Marcus Stern adapted and directs the production, which is based on the Richard Kelly film. The show will officially open Oct. 31 at the company's Zero Arrow Theatre for a run through Nov. 18.

The cast of local actors includes A.R.T. company members Remo Airaldi (as Principal Cole), Thomas Derrah (Jim Cunningham), Will LeBow (Eddie Darko) and Karen MacDonald (Kitty Farmer) as well as Dan McCabe (Donnie), Flora Diaz (Gretchen Ross), Paula Langton (Rose Darko), Carolyn McCandish (Samantha Darko) and Mara Sidmore (Dr. Thurman).

Angela Nahigian, Sarah Jorge Leon, Delance Minifee, Perry Jackson, Thomas Kelly, Kathy Lebrón, Talisa Friedman, Greta Merchant, Gillian Gordon and Lisa Woods round out the ensemble.

"Late one evening during the presidential election of 1988, a giant bunny rabbit named Frank lures the brilliant but troubled teen Donnie Darko out of his suburban home to give him a message: the world will end in 28 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 12 seconds," according to show notes. "When Donnie returns home a wrecked jet engine lies smoldering in what remains of his bedroom. Thus begins Donnie's race against time to find the reasons behind the mysterious occurrences surrounding him and his loved ones."

The design team features Matt McAdon (set), Clint Ramos (costumes), Scott Zielinski (lighting) and David Remedios (sound). The 2001 film featured Jake Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Jena Malone, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Patrick Swayze, among others.

The season at A.R.T. will continue with Nilaja Sun's No Child (Nov. 23-Dec. 23), Michael Frayn's Copenhagen (Jan. 5-Feb. 2, 2008), William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar (Feb. 9-March 16, 2008), Pieter-Dirk Uys' Elections and Erections — A Chronicle of Fear & Fun (April 2-May 4, 2008) and Stephen Greenblatt and Charles Mee's Cardenio (May 10-June 1, 2008).

Tickets to Donnie Darko at the Zero Arrow Theatre (corner of Arrow Street and Massachusetts Avenue) in Harvard Square are available by calling (617) 547-8300 or online at amrep.org.