Barrymore Award winner Maria Mileaf will direct the production, which is set to begin previews at the New Jersey theatre Jan. 10, 2006, and play through Feb. 5.

Glen Berger’s one-man play, according to press notes, is the tale of a “Danish librarian, who, upon finding a 113-year overdue book goes on a search to find the culprit, and winds up on a life-changing quest. One clue builds upon another as this once-staid librarian embarks on a journey that spans the globe — the result of which carries mystical and spiritual implications.”

In the Afterword for his play, writer Berger states, “All my plays are first inspired by music, and Underneath the Lintel was inspired particularly by certain Klezmer/Yiddish music from the 1920s (and earlier). The 'jaunty melancholy,’ the ‘dancing-despite-it-all’ quality it contained, the defiance even — a certain ‘finding-joy-despite-all-the-evidence-to-the-contrary’ quality in the music — compelled me to try to express it as a play.”

Richard Schiff, who began his career as a theatre director in New York, has been seen on television in “The West Wing” (Emmy Award), “Relativity,” “Ally McBeal,” “The Practice,” “Chicago Hope” and “ER.” Also a part of Tim Robbins’ Actors Gang, he appeared in Goose and Tom Tom, winning a Dramalogue Award for his performance in that David Rabe play. He also received an Ovation Award for his work in Urban Folktales. Schiff’s many film credits include “Seven,” “City Hall,” “Malcolm X,” “Hoffa,” “Michael,” “Jurassic Park: The Lost World,” “Deep Impact,” “Dr. Doolittle,” “Living Out Loud,” “Heaven,” “Forces of Nature,” “Numbers” and “What’s the Worst That Can Happen?”

The George Street Playhouse is located in New Brunswick, NJ at 9 Livingston Avenue. Call (732) 246-7717 for tickets or visit www.GSPonline.org.