Originally scheduled to begin previews Oct. 11, Philoktetes will now commence performances Oct. 13 with the official opening rescheduled for Oct. 17. No word was given for McCann's departure from the production.

Playwright Jesurun directs and designs the production, which utilizes his trademark of combining various acting styles, media projections as well as vernacular and lyrical language into a theatrical event.

Press notes describe Jesurun's account of Philoktetes as such: "Ten years after abandoning Philoktetes on an island, his fellow soldiers return to retrieve him, now needing him to win the Trojan War: Jesurun creates a war-of-wills chamber piece about a formidable and broken man unwilling to fight in his comrades' war."

Prior to the Soho Rep engagement, Philoktetes played throughout Europe, Mexico and recently in Japan, starring Noh theatre legend Hideo Kanze.

As Philoktetes, Louis Cancelmi will join Will Badgett as Odysseus and Jason Lew as Neoptolemus for the work's U.S. premiere. The Philoktetes design team features lighting design by Jeff Nash and costume design by Ruth Pongstaphone with physical production and projections designed by Jesurun.

Jesurun's previous works include the Obie-winning Deep Sleep, as well as Faust/How I Rose, Number Minus One, Dog's Eye View, Red House, Everything That Rises Must Converge, Septet and Snow.

Philoktetes will play a limited engagement through Oct. 28.

The Soho Rep is located at 46 Walker Street in Manhattan. Tickets are available by calling (212) 868-4444 or by visiting www.smarttix.com.