Dog Days has book and lyrics by Royce Vavrek. David T. Little's score incorporates elements of opera, musical theatre and rock-infused concert music.

According to production notes, the show investigates "the psychology of a working class American family" during an imagined future war on U.S. soil. "This black comedy asks: is it madness, delusion, or sheer animal instinct that guides us through severely trying times? Where lies the line between animal and human, and at what point must we give into our animal instincts to survive?" It's based on the short story of the same title by Judy Budnitz.

The production will give three performances, Jan. 9-11, 2016, at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts on the south side of Washington Square Park in New York's Greenwich Village.

The production will be directed by Robert Woodruff, with music direction by Alan Pierson. Dog Days is a co-production of NYU Skirball Center, Beth Morrison Projects and HERE’s Prototype: Opera/Theatre/Now.

Also in the cast: James Bobick, Marnie Breckenridge, Michael Marcotte and Peter Tantsits, accompanied by David T. Little’s chamber ensemble NEWSPEAK.

Dog Days got its world-premiere production at Montclair State University, produced by Peak Performances in association with Beth Morrison Projects.

Tickets for Dog Days cost $20-$75 and are currently available to Skirball and Prototype Members only. Tickets will be available to the general public starting Sept. 7 online at www.nyuskirball.org or in person at the NYU Skirball Center box office.