Tony Award winner Doug Hughes (Doubt) directs. The production began Jan. 13 at MTC's home at New York City Center Stage I. Jay Wilkison (of the film "Rabbit Hole") plays the soldier, and Andre Holland (Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, The Brother/Sister Plays) and Emmy Award winner Andre Braugher (TV's "Homicide" and "Men of a Certain Age") are the freed slaves.

Here's how the play (which has been seen in regional theatres around the country) is described by MTC: "Three men tied by faith, bound by secrets, at a crossroads — a Jewish Confederate soldier (Wilkison) who has returned from battle, and two former slaves (Braugher and Holland), who were raised as Jews in his household. As the three men reunite to celebrate Passover, they uncover a tangle of secrets that might cost each man his freedom."

Since its premiere at Luna Stage in Montclair, NJ, The Whipping Man has been produced at The Old Globe in San Diego, CA, and at Barrington Stage. Lopez's other plays include Tio Pepe (Summer Play Festival 2008), Reverberation and Zoey's Perfect Wedding.

The creative team features John Lee Beatty (scenic design), Catherine Zuber (costume design), Ben Stanton (lighting design), Jill BC DuBoff (sound design) and J. David Brimmer (fight direction).

Braugher has earned two Emmy Awards: in 1998 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama for work on "Homicide: Life on the Streets" and in 2006 for his starring role in the miniseries "Thief." In 2010, he received his sixth Emmy nomination for the series "Men of a Certain Age," which returned for its second season Dec. 6 on TNT. On stage, Braugher received an Obie Award for his performance in the 1996 Shakespeare in the Park production of Henry V. Other New York stage credits include Hamlet, The Tragedy of Richard II, Measure for Measure and Twelfth Night. For more information on MTC, visit www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com.