McCarthy is the author of "All the Pretty Horses" and "No Country for Old Men," among other books.

The Sunset Limited, a two hander, is " the tale of a man who saves another man's life on a New York City subway platform," the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

The production will run May 18-June 25 in the Garage Theatre. Austin Pendleton will direct as well as co-star.

Tickets to the production, set at $15, go on sale Dec. 23. Call (312) 335-1650.

In a striking break with its past record, Steppenwolf has decided to fill its 2005-06 line up with new plays, including works by Steven Dietz, Frank Galati, Richard Greenberg, John Kolvenback and Bruce Norris. The lineup of new works began with Steven Dietz's Last of the Boys and the Frank Galati adaptation of Haruki Murakami's after the quake, also directed by the ensemble member. Terry Kinney next directs Richard Greenberg's The Well-Appointed Room (Jan. 12-March 12, 2006). Austin Pendleton then stages John Kolvenbach's Love Song with Francis Guinan, Mariann Mayberry and Molly Regan (March 30-June 4, 2006). And, Anna D. Shapiro will direct Bruce Norris' The Unmentionables featuring K. Todd Freeman, John Mahoney, Laurie Metcalf and Amy Morton (June 29-Aug. 27, 2006).