"Sarah Jones first burned her astonishing characters into my consciousness three years ago at an Equality Now Event," stated Streep in a release. "She created a series of portraits that were as visually arresting as the work of Cindy Sherman, but they spoke and moved and invented on the spot. Her writers' gift is equal to her talents as an actress. Her compassionate, tough and hilarious take on what makes us different as human beings and the commonality we can't deny is unique in my experience."

Streep joins Allan Buchman, Robert Dragotta, Jayson Jackson and The Culture Project in presenting the latest work from the writer-performer of the one-woman show Surface Transit. Tony Taccone (Continental Divide) directs.

bridge and tunnel once again plays to Jones' chameleon-like talents as she tackles ten characters including a Pakistani accountant, a Chinese mother and a young Latina. The characters explore issues of assimilation in modern urban America, putting the New York melting pot to the test.

"Whether we are women or men; older or younger; straight-laced or queer-eyed; whether we pray Saturday, Sunday, everyday or only at football games; whether we're born here or not; barely scraping by or more comfortable than most, we are all much more connected than any of us realize," states Jones. "By neighborhood, by circumstance, by chance and most importantly by our basic human dignity, we are all cosmically, and of course, often comically linked."

Alexander V. Nichols provides set and lighting design for bridge and tunnel. Jones has penned and performed works including Waking the American Dream, Women Can't Wait and Surface Transit. The actress also appeared in the Spike Lee film "Bamboozled" and Off-Broadway in Eve Ensler's Vagina Monologues. As a poet, Jones has performed on HBO's "Def Poetry Jam."

Director Taccone most recently directed the acclaimed world premiere of David Edgar's two-play cycle Continental Divide (Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Berkeley Repertory Theatre). Other credits include Cloud Nine, Homebody/ Kabul, The Oresteia, The Alchemist, Skylight, Pentecost, Slavs!, The Caucasian Chalk Circle and Serious Money.

Tickets to bridge and tunnel at the 45 Bleecker Street Theatre can be purchased by calling (212) 253-9983.