Three-time Emmy nominee Sharon Lawrence ("NYPD Blue") and "Sex and the City"'s Willie Garson star in the West Coast premiere of Under the Blue Sky Sept. 10-Oct. 20, the first production in the Geffen Playhouse's 2002-2003 season. Gil Cates, producing director of the Geffen, directs the British drama.

Under the Blue Sky is a bittersweet examination of the loving and loveless relationships among a group of British and Irish professors, in what London's Guardian called "a teacher’s La Ronde." Playwright David Eldridge is also the author of Serving It Up and Summer Begins.

Lawrence, who will play Michelle, received her Emmy nominations for her role as Sylvia Costas Sipowitz on six seasons of "NYPD Blue." Her Broadway credits include the original cast of Zorba, Cabaret, Fiddler on the Roof and Velma Kelly in the current Chicago revival.

Garson, who will play Graham, stars as Carrie's gay pal Stanford on "Sex and the City." His film credits include "Being John Malkovitch," "There's Something About Mary" and "Play It to the Bone."

Also in the cast are McCaleb Burnett ("Citizen Baines") as Nick, Judy Geeson ("To Sir: With Love," the Royal Shakespeare Company) as Anne, John Carroll Lynch ("The Drew Carey Show," "The Good Girl") as Robert and Margaret Welsh (Off-Broadway's Triumph of Love) as Helen. Tickets are $28-$46. The Geffen Playhouse is at 10886 Le Conte Avenue in Westwood, CA. The Geffen Playhouse is on the web at http://www.geffenplayhouse.com.

– By Christine Ehren