Most recently seen on stage in Charles Busch's The Third Story Off-Broadway and in the 2005 Broadway revival of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Turner will take on the role of a nun whose faith is tested when she takes in a young man struggling with addiction. Lombardo developed the play for Turner.

Rob Ruggiero, who also staged the premiere and current Broadway run of Looped, will direct the Hartford premiere of High that runs July 9-Aug. 22. Lombardo's play replaces the previously announced production of Neil LaBute's Tony-nominated play Reasons to Be Pretty.

According to press notes, "when Sister Jamison Connelly (Turner) agrees to sponsor a nineteen year-old drug-user in an effort to help him combat his addiction, her own faith is ultimately tested. Struggling between the knowledge she possesses as a rehabilitation counselor and a woman of religious conviction, she begins to question the belief in miracles and whether people can find the courage to change. High explores the universal themes of truth, forgiveness, redemption and human fallibility."

Complete casting and creative duties will be announced shortly.

Lombardo's Tallulah Bankhead-inspired work Looped is currently playing Broadway with Valerie Harper as the iconic actress. His plays also include the Katharine Hepburn bio-play Tea at Five. TheaterWorks, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis will co-produce the production; the Midwest theatres will offer the play in the fall. There are also commercial producers attached. They hope to bring the play to New York City in early 2011, Playbill.com has learned.

Tickets to High at TheaterWorks, 233 Pearl Street in Hartford, CT, are available by calling (860) 527-7838.

For more information visit the TheaterWorks website at theaterworkshartford.org.