Directed by Guthrie artistic director Joe Dowling, the production will officially open Nov. 7. Performances will continue through Dec. 21 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage.

English actor Simon Jones portrays C.S. Lewis opposite Guthrie favorite Charity Jones as his wife, Joy Davidman Gresham. The two Joneses are joined onstage by Julian Bailey (Dr. Maurice Oakley/Clerk/Doctor/Waiter in Hotel), Jennifer Blagen (Nurse/Woman in Tea Room/Witness), Bob Davis (Christopher Riley), Tucker Garborg (Douglas), Jonas Goslow (Alan Gregg/Waiter in Tea Room/Registrar/Priest), Mykola Rieland (Douglas), James A. Stephens (Major W. H. Lewis) and Peter Thomson (Rev. "Harry" Harrington).

"At the core of Shadowlands," press notes state, "is a love story with undeniable staying power. World renowned writer and professor C.S. Lewis is unmarried and leads a gentleman's life filled with intellectual pursuits. When he begins correspondence with Joy Gresham Davidman, who possesses a strange candor and familiarity with Lewis, he becomes captivated by her outspokenness and warmth and agrees to a meeting. An unlikely friendship develops between the two and – as a character in his stories – Lewis's world is turned upside down as he experiences a love he's never known before. But as their romance deepens, a terrible twist of fate reveals a tragic truth for Lewis: a heart awakened to great love is made vulnerable to great pain."

The artistic team also includes Patrick Clark (set designer), Devon Painter (costume designer), Marcus Dilliard (lighting designer), Scott W. Edwards (sound designer), Adam Wernick (music consultant), Jo Holcomb (dramaturg), Elisa Carlson (voice and dialect coach), Marcela Lorca (movement), Chris A. Code (stage manager), Timothy Markus (assistant stage manager) and Sarah Gioia (assistant director).

The Guthrie is located at 818 South 2nd Street (at Chicago Avenue), in downtown Minneapolis. To purchase tickets call (612) 377-2224 or visit www.guthrietheater.org.