Acclaimed stage actor and Broadway veteran Hickey will lead the show, which is loosely based on the creation of the first atomic bombs in Los Alamos, NM. Created by Sam Shaw ("Masters of Sex") and directed by Thomas Schlamme ("West Wing"), reviews to date have been extremely positive, citing stage veteran Hickey's work in particular.

According to Variety.com, the show is billed as follows, "Manhattan follows the events of a small New Mexico town filled with scientists recruited to work on the Manhattan Project, the development of the first nuclear bombs. John Benjamin Hickey stars as lead scientist Frank Winter, who, along with his wife Liza (Olivia Williams) and daughter Callie (Alexia Fast), must work through the danger and deceit occurring in the highly secure outpost."

The first episode airs this evening, July 27 at 9 PM / 8 PM central on WGN America.

For NYC viewers, catch "Manhattan" on Time Warner channel 126, Verizon Fios channel 8 or 568 HD and RCN channel 27 or 627 HD.

For more information visit wgnamerica.com/shows/manhattan.