Emery, who recently starred in Lucy for the Ensemble Studio Theatre, portrays Martha Gellhorn in Hay's drama that explores the life of Ernest Hemingway's third wife. Emery is joined onstage by Peter Benson (Pajama Game), Richard Bekins (Tartuffe), William Connell (Coast of Utopia) and Terry Layman (Twelve Angry Men), under the direction of Keen Company artistic director Carl Forsman.

Co-presented by the Keen Company and Neal Weisman, The Maddening Truth takes "a searing look at Ms. Gellhorn's desperate attempt, in her mid-60's, to fulfill her lifelong ambition: to write a luminous novel. Famous for her eyewitness accounts of the Spanish Civil War, the devastation at Dachau, and the American bombing of Vietnam, the forgotten, still glamorous journalist has returned to London from exile in Kenya. Goaded on by a smart, younger generation of writers to make good on her promise, she sets out on a painful, errant path that contradicts Hemingway's assertion and yields an utterly surprising result," according to press notes.

The creative team for comprisees Beowulf Boritt (set design), Josh Bradford (lighting design), Theresa Squire (costume design) and Daniel Baker (sound design).

Lisa Emery has starred in the Broadway productions of The Smell of the Kill, The Women, Jackie, Present Laughter, Rumors, Burn This and Passion. Off-Broadway she has appeared in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and earned Lucille Lortel nominations for her work in Abigail's Party and Iron.

The Maddening Truth plays the Clurman Theatre for a limited engagement through Feb. 23. An official opening night is scheduled for Jan. 30. Tickets are available by calling (212) 279-4200 or by visiting www.ticketcentral.com.

The Clurman Theatre is located in Manhattan at 410 West 42nd Street.