As previously announced, Kathleen Chalfant will head the cast of the Howard Barker play in the role of the Riddler. Chalfant will be joined onstage by Melissa Friedman as Praxis, Dion Graham as Plevna, Alex Organ as the Sentry, Thom Sesma as Seemore, James Wallert as Atilla and Sarah Winkler as the Woman.

Directed by Will Pomerantz, performances will begin at the Clurman Theatre on Theatre Row Oct. 30 with an official opening Nov. 11. The limited engagement will run through Dec. 2.

A Hard Heart, according to press notes, "is a prescient and electrifying play exploring the ways we protect our political and human borders. Barker's prophetic drama imagines a country facing invasion. 'Praxis' the Queen enlists the Genius 'Riddler' to devise a strategy to protect their threatened culture, but is the sacrifice too much?"

The production will feature scenic design by Narelle Sissons, costume design by Chris Rumery, lighting design by Lenore Doxsee and sound design by Mark Huang.

The Clurman Theatre on Theatre Row is located in Manhattan at 410 West 42nd Street. Tickets, priced $50, are available by calling (212) 279-4200 or by visiting www.ticketcentral.com. *

Post-show forums will follow each performance. Those currently scheduled to take part in the discussions follow.

Nov. 2
Michelle Gavin, Council on Foreign Relations; Foreign Policy Advisor, U.S. Senator Russ Feingold
Julian Zelizer, Princeton University; author of "On Capitol Hill: The Struggle to Reform Congress and its Consequences, 1948-2000"
Marti LoMonaco, Chair of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts, Fairfield University

Nov. 3
Corey Robin, Brooklyn College; author of "Fear: The History of a Political Idea"
Max Blumenthal, The Nation, maxblumenthal.com

Nov. 7
Kimberly Joy Marten, Barnard College, Political Science Department Chair

Nov. 8
Michael S. Foley, College of Staten Island, Department of History

Nov. 9
Joan Wile, Grandmothers Against the War
Vinie Burrows, Grandmothers Against the War
Jenny Heinz, Grandmothers Against the War
Jocelyn Boryczka, Fairfield University, Department of Politics

Nov. 10
Chris Hedges, author of "War Is a Force Which Gives Us Meaning"
Jack L. Snyder, Columbia University, Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies

Nov. 13
Sandi Cooper, College of Staten Island/CUNY Graduate Center Department of History

Nov. 15
Leslie Kielson, United for Peace and Justice

Nov. 16
Ambassador Robert L. Hutchings, Former National Security Council's Director for European Affairs; author of "American Diplomacy and the End of the Cold War: An Insider's Account of U.S. Policy in Europe (1989-1992)"

Nov. 17
Lucy Katz, Professor of Business Law, Ethics, and Dispute Resolution at Fairfield University

Dec. 1
George Andreopoulos, Director, Center for International Human Rights, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York.